Camera

ABSTRACT

A camera includes a first lens unit, formed of a plurality of lenses, on which a light beam is incident from a subject, a reflective mirror for reflecting a light beam, which has come from the subject and has been transmitted through the first lens unit, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the first lens unit, a first diaphragm member which is arranged on a surface of a lens of the first lens unit closest to the reflective mirror with the surface of the lens facing the reflective mirror, and which blocks unwanted rays of light other than the light beam that contributes to the forming of the image of the subject on an image formation surface, a second lens unit, formed of a plurality of lenses, on which the light beam reflected from the reflective mirror is incident, a second diaphragm member which is arranged between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, and blocks unwanted rays of light that travel outside the outermost periphery at which the light beam forming the subject image traveling from the first lens unit to the reflective member intersects the light beam forming the subject image traveling from the reflective mirror to the second lens unit, and an unwanted ray-of-light reflection prevention member which is arranged on the reflective mirror to prevent rays of light from being reflected from a region thereof other than the region thereof on which the light beam forming the subject image is incident.

[0001] This application claims benefits of Japanese Application Nos.:2001-58910 filed on Mar. 2, 2001, 2001-58911 filed on Mar. 2, 2001,2001-58912 filed on Mar. 2, 2001, 2001-60499 filed on Mar. 5, 2001,2001-60500 filed on Mar. 5, 2001, 2001-124612 filed on Apr. 23, 2001,2001-124613 filed on Apr. 23, 2001, 2001-160869 filed on May 29, 2001,2001-160870 filed on May 29, 2001, the contents of which areincorporated by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a camera and, more particularly,to a compact camera.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Cameras, such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras,still picture cameras, and motion picture cameras, are commercializedand widely used. In these cameras, the image of a photogenic subjectformed based on a light beam from the photogenic subject (hereinafterreferred to as a subject light beam) incident on a picture takingoptical system (hereinafter referred to as an image-pickup opticalsystem) including a plurality of lens units is formed on subject imagecapturing means placed at a predetermined location, for example, on animage pickup device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD), or aphotosensitive surface such as a camera film. A desired subject image isthus captured, and is then recorded in a predetermined recording mediumin a predetermined form.

[0006] In these conventional cameras, a photographing optical system istypically formed of a plurality of lenses to form the subject image on apredetermined location.

[0007] A variety of photographing optical systems for conventionalcameras are known. For example, in one photographing optical system,predetermined reflecting means such as a reflective mirror is arrangedin an optical path to guide the subject light beam incident on thecamera to a predetermined subject image capturing means such as theimage pickup device or the camera film so that the optical path is bentto be aligned with a direction approximately perpendicular to theincident light optical path. A variety of cameras having a photographingoptical system incorporating the so-called bending optical mechanism hasbeen proposed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 9-281578 and Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 9-163206.

[0008] In the cameras disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 9-281578 and Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 9-163206, reflective means is arranged inthe optical path of the photographing optical system through which thesubject light beam is transmitted so that the optical path of thesubject light beam is bent in its way. This arrangement assures arequired optical path length while incorporating a compact design in thecamera itself.

[0009] The so-called bending optical system with the reflective meansarranged in the optical path thereof is advantageous in theminiaturization of the camera.

[0010] With electronic equipment such as personal computers inwidespread use, the demand for the camera is expected to mount whichcaptures and records the subject image formed by the image-pickupoptical system using a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device), and then reproducesthe subject image.

[0011] This type of camera obtains a video signal by picking up thesubject image formed through the image-pickup optical system by the CCD,while displaying the subject image on the photographing screen such as amonitor display or an LCD (Liquid-Crystal Display) in response to thevideo signal. Some cameras incorporate a recording medium such as amemory card in a detachable manner to store the video signal obtainedthrough an image pickup operation.

[0012] Thin design is required of such a camera in an attempt to promotethe ease of use, and low-cost and compact design.

[0013] To meet the thin design requirement, a variety of techniques havebeen proposed, such as a thin-design digital camera disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-336496 and arecording and reproducing apparatus disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 9-163206.

[0014] In the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 10-336496, the digital camera houses withina camera body, an image-pickup optical system, an image pickupapparatus, and a monitor. If the camera body is viewed in the opticalaxis of the image-pickup optical system, the image pickup apparatus andthe monitor do not overlap each other. In other words, a unit having thelargest depth dimension is the image-pickup optical system. A thindesign is incorporated by arranging no units that stack on theimage-pickup optical system in the direction of depth.

[0015] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-163206discloses a video camera in which the optical axis of the subject lightbeam incident on a front lens is bent at a right angle to be guided intoa solid-state image pickup device. As discussed in connection withanother embodiment with reference to FIG. 4 in that disclosure, anarrangement is disclosed in which an optical system and a circuit boardof a VTR do not overlap each other when viewed from the subject end. Inthis way, the depth, length and height dimensions of the video cameraare reduced, thereby generally miniaturizing the video camera.

[0016] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-116796has proposed an electronic still camera in which an subject light beamis photoelectrically converted and is then recorded on a thin recordingmedium. The electronic still camera includes a photographing opticalsystem unit, a photoelectrical conversion unit, and a recording unit inthat order from front to back in the center of a camera body which has awidth dimension larger than a depth dimension, and a recording medium ishoused in the recording unit with the planar surface of the recordingmedium aligned to be perpendicular to the fore-aft line of the camerabody. Furthermore, other camera components are arranged beside thesecomponents within the camera body. Specifically, first and secondcircuit boards as signal processing boards and the recording unit arestacked within the camera to miniaturize the camera.

[0017] Because of its high power consumption, an electronic camera mustuse a large battery, and the fact presents difficulty in theminiaturization of the camera.

[0018] To improve portability with compact and light-weight design, thebattery must be compact. However, a compact battery means lower powercapacity, and its service life is short. In view of a sequence of thecamera, at a peak power consumption when a plurality of calculations andactuator driving operations are concurrently performed, the voltage of apower supply significantly drops. The voltage, which has dropped below apredetermined threshold, can be determined as a battery voltage drop,and a normal picture taking operation cannot be performed any longer.

[0019] The peak power consumption occurs at a limited timing in theoperation sequence of the camera. The battery power is thus determinedto be insufficient even if there is still power remaining in the batteryin terms of overall battery power.

[0020] Photographing optical systems of the camera in general have aphotographing optical axis aligned with the fore-aft line of a camerabody (in the direction of depth). The overall length of thephotographing optical system is the main factor that determines thethickness of the camera body. The longer the overall length of thephotographing optical system, the larger the thickness of the camerabody. A zoom camera in particular uses a number of lenses, and theoverall length of the photographing optical system thereof increases.The thickness of the camera body naturally increases.

[0021] The inventors of this invention have proposed that a thin designis implemented by incorporating an axis bending type photographingoptical system into a camera body. As disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 11-196303, a reflective surface,arranged in the optical axis bending type photographing optical system,bends the photographing optical axis so that the optical axis of thelight beam reflected from the reflective surface is aligned with thedirection of width of the camera. The overall length of thephotographing optical system is thus shortened.

[0022] The assembly method of the camera needs to be simplified tominiaturize the camera at low costs.

[0023] In conventional assembly methods of cameras, a chassis isarranged, a circuit board and an image-pickup optical system are thenmounted on the chassis, and then camera outer housings are then mountedto cover these components. This method is widely adopted because of itseasiness and because each component in its mounted state on the chassisis easily tested. However, space for the chassis is required. To promoteminiaturization and compact design, there is a need for the eliminationof the space for the chassis.

[0024] To meet such a need, circuit boards may be stacked one on anotherwithin outer housing members, and finally, the outer housing members aresecured each other. Such a camera has already been proposed.

[0025] In view of circuit boards, since an electronic camera has a largescale circuit, a plurality of circuit boards, rather than a singlecircuit board, are required even if the maximum projectable area of thecamera is used. A plurality of circuit boards are thus stacked withinthe camera. The circuit boards are mutually electrically connected usingconnectors. Since the number of lines is very large, a board-to-boardconnector having a number of connection terminals mounted on the surfaceof each circuit board is useful.

[0026] This type of connector has the merit of connecting a number oflines at a time. However, since this connector fixes also mechanicalpositions between circuits at the same time, the dimensional accuracy ofthe assembly becomes a concern, particularly during assembly.

[0027] Specifically, when a circuit board is fixed inside the outerhousing of a camera using screws, an image-pickup optical system unitmust also be fixed using screws within the same outer housing. Theimage-pickup optical system unit typically has an image pickup deviceadjusted and fixed thereto beforehand. The image pickup device ismounted on an image pickup board. In other words, the circuit board andthe image pickup board are assembled and fixed within the camera outerhousing. The circuit board must be electrically connected to the imagepickup board. The mounting positions of the two boards are typicallysubject to variations. The two circuits have been conventionallyelectrically connected to each other using a flexible board toaccommodate positional variations of the two circuits.

[0028] The photographing optical system using the above-mentionedbending optical mechanism has a structure that allows unwanted rays oflight to easily reach a predetermined image-formed position. Theunwanted rays of light may include internal reflections of light thattake place when a subject light beam incident on a lens is reflectedfrom the inner surface of a retainer of the lens, rays of lightexcessively obliquely incident on a lens closest to the subject end, andrays of light which are reflected from reflective means in undesireddirections.

[0029] These unwanted rays of light create noise such as ghost and flarein a captured image, thereby resulting in an image degradation. Thecamera photographing optical system having an axis bending opticalmechanism thus needs means (unwanted rays of light prevention means) forblocking or preventing the unwanted rays of light that cause the imagedegradation.

[0030] However, there is no mention of such unwanted ray-of-preventionmeans in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-281578and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-163206.This suggests that no sufficient consideration has conventionally givento the unwanted rays of light in the photographing optical system havingan axis bending optical mechanism.

[0031] Specifically, in an ordinary photographing optical system in theconventional camera having no reflective means in which the optical pathof the subject light beam is not bent in the photographing opticalsystem, one or a plurality of diaphragm members suffice to block orprevent the unwanted rays of light. The conventional axis bending typeoptical system thus has unwanted ray-of-light prevention means similarto that employed in the ordinary photographing optical system with theoptical path thereof not bent.

[0032] The ordinary photographing optical system typically requires afocus adjustment mechanism to focus the subject image at a predeterminedposition. The focus adjustment mechanism is a mechanism that moves apredetermined lens, out of a plurality of lenses forming thephotographing optical system, along the optical axis to move theimage-formed position of the subject image.

[0033] A reduction in the dimension of the camera in the fore-aftdirection, namely, a thin design is preferably implemented in thephotographing optical system having the axis bending optical system. Tothis end, it is effective to shorten a portion of the optical path of aplurality of lenses upstream of the bending point of the optical path,namely, the distance between a front lens unit arranged closest to thesubject end and the reflective means.

[0034] If a focus adjustment operation is performed by moving the frontlens unit arranged upstream of the bending point of the optical path ofthe subject light beam in the photographing optical system having anaxis bending optical mechanism, the number of lens elements in each lensunit and the number of lens units increase. In this arrangement, thethin design is difficult to implement in the camera.

[0035] To thin the fore-aft dimension of the camera, the front lens unitis preferably arranged to have a required light collection capabilitywith the minimum number of lens elements.

[0036] To meet this requirement in the photographing optical systemhaving an axis bending optical mechanism, it is contemplated that thelens elements in the front lens unit may be set to be stationary in therelative positions thereof, and that a focus adjustment operation isperformed by varying the distance between the reflective means and apredetermined component, for example, subject image capturing means suchas an image pickup device or a camera film.

[0037] In a camera employing an image pickup device as the subject imagecapturing means, a number of electrical components and circuit boardsincluding connection lines are mounted on the image pickup device. Theseare typically integrated into a unitary structure.

[0038] When the image pickup device is moved with respect to a fixedphotographing optical system to perform a focus adjustment operation,components associated with the image pickup device must be mechanicallymoved together with the image pickup device.

[0039] When a camera film is moved to perform a focus adjustmentoperation with the photographing optical system stationary in a camerausing the camera film as the subject image capturing means, a pluralityof components for assuring flatness of the camera film must bemechanically moved integrally with the camera film.

[0040] In view of the above arrangements, the focus adjustment method bymoving the subject image capturing means such as the image pickup deviceor the camera film in the optical axis of the photographing opticalsystem is not appropriate.

[0041] There is no mention of a mechanism performing a focus adjustmentoperation in the photographing optical system having an axis bendingoptical mechanism in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 9-281578 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.9-163206.

[0042] The conventional art disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 10-336496 and Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 9-163206 will incorporate a thin design inthe camera to some degree. If units are arranged in a manner with noportion overlapping each other, the area size of the camera, when viewedin the optical axis of the photographing optical axis, becomes large.The thin design is thus incorporated at the expense of the area size ofthe camera. The conventional art is thus not appropriate from thestandpoint of promoting the ease of use and thin structure.

[0043] In addition to the thin design, a compact structure as a resultof the thin design, the ease of assembly and a low-cost design arerequired of the camera. The above-referenced conventional arts satisfynot all these requirements.

[0044] Digital cameras consuming a large quantity of electrical energyare now discussed. Such a camera needs a large space for housing abattery. In the above disclosures, there is no mention of the mountingof a battery that occupies a large space, namely, no mention of anytechnique that substantially miniaturizes the camera in size.

[0045] A battery needs to be miniaturized in a conventional electroniccamera to assure portability with compact and light-weight designincorporated. However, a compact camera means a reduction in batterycapacity, and then a short service life of battery. In a sequence ofcamera operation, in a typical control method, the voltage, which hasdropped below a predetermined threshold at a peak power consumptiontiming, can be determined as a battery voltage drop, and the batterypower is thus determined to be insufficient even if there is stillsignificant portion of the overall battery power remaining in thebattery. A normal picture taking operation cannot be performed anylonger.

[0046] In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.9-116796, there is no mention of any technique to preclude a problemtaking place on a small battery during a peak power consumption. Thedisclosure also fails to detail any arrangement that is intended toachieve miniaturization, weight balance and the ease of assembly of thecamera.

[0047] The camera body thickness is thinned using an optical-axisbending type photographing optical system. The use of the optical systemalone fails to reduce the width dimension of the camera. The entirecamera cannot be reduced in size. To miniaturize the entire camera, notonly the thickness thereof but also the width and vertical lengththereof (height dimensions) need to be reduced. To this end, othercomponents mounted in the vicinity of the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system, for example, a stroboscopic capacitorhaving a relatively large volume, needs to be effectively mounted in thecamera body.

[0048] Since a connector using a flexible board, typical of theconventional connection method, has a number of lines as alreadydiscussed, the connector itself becomes bulky. The connector is notdurable, and is not a reliable connection option. The connector is thusfar from improving the reliability and the ease of assembly thereof. Theuse of the connector does not serve the purpose of the miniaturizationof the camera.

[0049] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-116796fails to detail the assembly method of the camera. The use of theabove-mentioned connector is not satisfactory in terms of thereliability, miniaturization, and the ease of assembly of the camera.

[0050] In view of the above problems, the present invention has beendeveloped. The present invention has the following objects.

[0051] It is an object of the present invention to provide a camerawhich includes a photographing optical system with an axis bendingoptical mechanism using reflective means in the optical path thereof,and forms a subject image in an excellent state thereof on apredetermined image-forming surface by blocking unwanted rays of light,out of light beams incident thereof, unnecessary to form a subjectimage.

[0052] It is another object of the present invention to provide a camerawhich employs a photographing optical system including an axis bendingoptical mechanism, and has a compact design with a thin structure in thefore-aft direction of the camera.

[0053] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide acamera which features a thin, compact and low-cost structure, and asmall projection area size when viewed in the projecting optical axis,and presents the ease of assembly and the ease of use of the camera.

[0054] It is still another object of the present invention to provide acamera which is low-cost, generally compact, thin-structured, and easyto use with the projection area size viewed in the projecting opticalaxis minimized by skillfully arranging a circuit board, an opticalsystem apparatus, and a battery.

[0055] It is still further object of the present invention to provide acamera which is low-cost, generally compact, thin-structured, and easyto use with the projection area size viewed in the projecting opticalaxis minimized by adeptly arranging various types of circuit boards.

[0056] It is still another object of the present invention to provide acamera which is compact, and thin, and stable in operation and has anexcellent weight balance by arranging a high-capacitance and flatelectrical-double-layer capacitor in an layout appropriate forminiaturization.

[0057] It is still yet another object of the present to provide anelectronic camera having the following advantages.

[0058] (a) The height dimension of the camera having an optical axisbending type photographing optical system is reduced.

[0059] (b) The camera which is already reduced in size by mounting anoptical axis bending type photographing optical system is even furtherminiaturized.

[0060] (c) Dead space in the body of the camera having an optical-axisbending type photographing optical system is effectively utilized.

[0061] In accordance with the present invention, a board-to-board typeconnector is employed in a camera which employs no chassis. Thereliability of the connector is therefore enhanced. The electroniccamera is thus compact, low-cost, and increases the ease of assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0062] To achieve the above objects, a camera of the present inventioncomprising: a first lens unit, formed of a plurality of lenses, on whicha light beam is incident from a subject; a reflective member forreflecting a light beam, which has come from the subject and has beentransmitted through the first lens unit, in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the optical axis of the first lens unit; a firstdiaphragm member which is arranged on a surface of a lens closest to thereflective member of the first lens unit with the surface of the lensfacing the reflective member, and which blocks unwanted rays of lightother than the light beam that contributes to the formation of the imageof the subject on an image-forming surface; a second lens unit, formedof a plurality of lenses, on which the light beam reflected from thereflective member is incident; at least one of a second diaphragm memberand an unwanted ray-of-light reflection prevention member, whereas thesecond diaphragm member being arranged between the first lens unit andthe second lens unit, and blocking unwanted rays of light that traveloutside the outermost periphery at which the light beam forming thesubject image traveling from the first lens unit to the reflectivemember intersects the light beam forming the subject image travelingfrom the reflective member to the second lens unit, and the unwantedray-of-light reflection prevention member being arranged on thereflective member to prevent rays of light from being reflected from aregion thereof other than the region thereof on which the light beamforming the subject image is incident; and a third diaphragm member,arranged in the vicinity of a surface of a lens of the second lens unitclosest to the reflective member with the surface of the lens facing thereflective member, for blocking unwanted rays of light other than thelight beam contributing to the formation of the subject image.

[0063] A camera of the present invention includes: a first lens unit,formed of a plurality of lenses, on which a light beam is incident froma subject; a reflective member for reflecting a light beam, which hascome from the subject and has been transmitted through the first lensunit, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis ofthe first lens unit; a subject image capturing device arranged at alocation where the light beam reflected from the reflective member formsthe subject image, and mounted integrally with a frame member; a focusadjusting mechanism which performs a focus adjustment operation for thesubject image by varying the distance between the reflective member andthe subject image capturing device, and a subject-image light beamincident window, formed in a housing member, and having an openingdimension that permits the light beam from the subject incident on thefirst lens unit to be transmitted therethrough, wherein the dimension ofthe window's long edge thereof is predetermined to permit the light beamincident on the first lens unit to be transmitted therethroughregardless of a case in which the distance between the reflective memberand the subject image capturing device, which is varied in response tothe focus adjustment operation, is set to be shortest, or a case inwhich the distance between the reflective member and the subject imagecapturing device is set to be longest.

[0064] A camera of the present invention includes: a flat and elongatedcasing; a battery holder for holding a battery, arranged near one end ofthe elongated casing, and having a portion thereof shortest in dimensionaligned with the direction of depth of the flat shape of the casing; arecording medium container with at least a portion thereof stacked onthe battery holder in the direction of depth of the casing, and with aportion thereof shortest in dimension aligned with the direction ofdepth of the casing; a photographing optical system, arranged near theother end of the elongated casing, for bending an incident light beamfrom a subject and forming an image on an image pickup surface; anoperation switch; and a display, wherein at least a portion of at leastone of the operation switch and the display is stacked on thephotographing optical system in the direction of depth of the casing,and the operation switch and the display are not stacked on each otherin a plane of the casing when viewed from the subject.

[0065] A camera of the present invention includes: a flat and elongatedcasing; a battery holder for holding a battery, arranged near one end ofthe elongated casing, and having a portion thereof shortest in dimensionaligned with the direction of depth of the flat shape of the casing; aphotographing optical system, arranged near the other end of theelongated casing, for bending an incident light beam from a subject andforming an image on an image pickup surface thereof; an image pickupboard which is arranged in parallel with an image pickup surface of animage pickup apparatus and receives an output signal from the imagepickup apparatus, wherein the image pickup surface of the image pickupapparatus is arranged in the image pickup surface of the photographingoptical system; and a circuit board having an outer shape that isstacked on the battery holder in the direction of depth of the casing,but is not stacked on the photographing optical system in the directionof depth of the casing, and substantially coextends with the plane ofthe casing when viewed from the subject.

[0066] A camera of the present invention includes: a flat casing; abattery holder for holding a battery, arranged near one end of thecasing, and having a portion thereof shortest in dimension aligned withthe direction of depth of the flat shape of the casing; a photographingoptical system, arranged near the other end of the casing, for bendingan incident light beam from a subject and forming the image on an imagepickup surface thereof; a first circuit board having an outer shape thatis stacked on the battery holder in the direction of depth of thecasing, but is not stacked on the battery holder in the direction ofdepth of the photographing optical system, and generally coextends withthe plane of the casing when viewed from the subject; and a secondcircuit board having a shape not stacked on the battery holder and thephotographing optical system in the direction of depth of the casing.

[0067] A camera of the present invention includes: a flat casing; abattery holder arranged inside the casing; a circuit board arranged withat least a portion thereof stacked on the battery holder in thedirection of depth of the casing; and a flat electrical-double-layercapacitor stacked and arranged with at least a portion thereof stackedon both the battery holder and the circuit board.

[0068] An electronic camera of the present invention includes: a camerabody; an axis bending type photographing optical system having areflective surface which is arranged in the vicinity of a light incidentarea of the camera body in a direction inclined with respect to theoptical axis of an incident light beam so that the optical axis of thelight beam reflected from the reflective surface is aligned with thedirection of width of the camera body; and a stroboscopic capacitorarranged with a portion of an outer circumference thereof close to theback side of the reflective surface of the photographing optical systemand with the length direction thereof aligned to be perpendicular to thebottom plane of the camera body.

[0069] An electronic camera of the present invention includes: a camerabody, a photographing optical system having a reflective surfacethereof, for bending an optical axis, in the vicinity of a lightincident area of the camera body, and arranged in the camera body sothat the length direction thereof, aligned with the optical axis of thelight beam reflected from the reflective surface, is in parallel withthe bottom plane of the camera, an optical finder arranged above thephotographing optical system with the length direction of the opticalfinder aligned to be in parallel with the length direction of thephotographing optical system; and a stroboscopic capacitor arrangedbelow the photographing optical system with the length direction of thestroboscopic capacitor aligned to be in parallel with the lengthdirection of the photographing optical system.

[0070] An electronic camera of the present invention includes: a casing;a photographing optical system, arranged in the casing, for capturing animage of a subject in front of the casing; an image pickup deviceintegrally assembled with the photographing optical system, for pickingup the subject image formed by the photographing optical system; animage pickup board connected to the image pickup device; and a firstcircuit board fixed to the casing with at least a portion thereofstacked on the image pickup board in the direction of depth of thecasing, wherein the image pickup board is mounted in the casingsubsequent to the mounting of the photographing optical system and thefirst circuit board in the casing, and the image pickup board is fixedto and connected to a terminal of the image pickup device.

[0071] The above and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become more clearly understood from the followingdescription referring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention.

[0073]FIG. 2 is a layout view illustrating the layout of majorcomponents, in the camera illustrated in FIG. 1, viewed from the frontthereof.

[0074]FIG. 3 is a layout view illustrating the layout of majorcomponents, in the camera illustrated in FIG. 1, viewed from top.

[0075]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the internal structure of aphotographing optical lens unit of the camera illustrated in FIG. 1,taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2.

[0076]FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the reflective surface of areflective mirror, taken out of the components of the photographingoptical system in the camera of FIG. 1.

[0077]FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the shape of a first reflectionprevention member viewed from an arrow B in FIG. 4.

[0078]FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the shape of a secondreflection prevention member viewed from an arrow B in FIG. 4.

[0079]FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the camera of the secondembodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0080]FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the camera illustratedin FIG. 8, viewed from behind.

[0081]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the internalstructure of the camera of FIG. 8.

[0082]FIG. 11 illustrates the layout of the camera characteristic of thecamera of the second embodiment.

[0083]FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the external structureof a camera in accordance with a modification of the second embodimentof the present invention, viewed from behind the camera.

[0084]FIG. 13 illustrates the layout of the camera characteristic of themodification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0085]FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a chassis, on which an opticalsystem having an image pickup board thereon is mounted, in a camera inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0086]FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating the layout of an opticalsystem apparatus, a main board, and a power board in the camera of thethird embodiment of the present invention.

[0087]FIG. 16A is a top view illustrating the chassis, on whichcomponents, such as the optical device, the main board, and the powerboard are mounted, in the camera of the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0088]FIG. 16B is a side view of the chassis in FIG. 16A, viewed fromthe image pickup board.

[0089]FIG. 17 is a plan view of the layout of the mounting position ofthe optical device, and the shape of the main board, in a modificationof the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0090]FIG. 18A is a top view illustrating a chassis, on whichcomponents, such as an optical device, a main board, and a power boardare mounted, in a camera in accordance with a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0091]FIG. 18B is a side view of the chassis of FIG. 18A, viewed from animage pickup board.

[0092]FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the external structureof a camera in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0093]FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the external structureof the camera in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from behind the camera.

[0094]FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view roughly illustrating theinternal structure of the camera illustrated in FIG. 19, explaining anassembly method of the camera of the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0095]FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the structure of an image pickupboard shown in FIG. 21.

[0096]FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of abattery holder mounted in a front cover close to a grip illustrated inFIG. 21.

[0097]FIG. 24 is a plan view illustrating the front cover, on which avariety of components such as an electrical-double-layer capacitor aremounted to explain a layout characteristic of the fifth embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0098]FIG. 25A illustrates the top structure of an electronic camera inaccordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0099]FIG. 25B illustrates the positional relationship between a bendingtype optical system and a stroboscopic capacitor in the camera of thesixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0100]FIG. 25C illustrates the structure of the camera of the sixthembodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0101]FIG. 26A illustrates the structure of the electronic camera of thesixth embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the frontthereof.

[0102]FIG. 26B illustrates the structure of the camera of the sixthembodiment of the present invention, viewed from the right-hand sidethereof with respect to the front of the camera.

[0103]FIG. 26C illustrates the structure of the electronic camera of thesixth embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the bottomthereof.

[0104]FIG. 27A illustrates the top structure of a camera in accordancewith a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0105]FIG. 27B illustrates the positional relationship between a bendingoptical system and a stroboscopic capacitor in the camera of the seventhembodiment of the present invention.

[0106]FIG. 27C illustrates the structure of the camera of the seventhembodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0107]FIG. 28A illustrates the structure of the camera of the seventhembodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0108]FIG. 28B illustrates the structure of the camera of the seventhembodiment of the present invention, viewed from the right-hand sidethereof with respect to the front of the camera.

[0109]FIG. 28C illustrates the structure of the camera of the seventhembodiment of the present invention, viewed from the bottom of thecamera.

[0110]FIG. 29A illustrates the top structure of the camera in accordancewith a first modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0111]FIG. 29B illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the first modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0112]FIG. 29C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the first modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the left-hand side thereof with respect to thefront of the camera.

[0113]FIG. 30A illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the first modification of the seventh embodiment, viewed from thefront thereof.

[0114]FIG. 30B illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the first modification of the seventh embodiment, viewed from theright-hand side thereof with respect to the front of the camera.

[0115]FIG. 30C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the first modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the bottom side of the camera.

[0116]FIG. 31A illustrates the top structure of the camera in accordancewith a second modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0117]FIG. 31B illustrates the positional relationship between a bendingoptical system and a stroboscopic capacitor in the camera of the secondmodification of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0118]FIG. 31C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the second modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0119]FIG. 32A illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the second modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0120]FIG. 32B illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the second modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the right-hand side thereof with respect to thefront of the camera.

[0121]FIG. 32C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the second modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the bottom thereof.

[0122]FIG. 33A illustrates the top structure of a camera in accordancewith a third modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0123]FIG. 33B illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the third modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0124]FIG. 33C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the third modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the left-hand side thereof with respect to thefront side of the camera.

[0125]FIG. 34A illustrates the top structure of the camera in accordancewith a fourth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0126]FIG. 34B illustrates the positional relationship between a bendingoptical system and a stroboscopic capacitor in the camera of the fourthmodification of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0127]FIG. 34C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the fourth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0128]FIG. 35A illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the fourth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0129]FIG. 35B illustrates the structure of the camera in the fourthmodification of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, viewedfrom the right-hand side thereof with respect to the front of thecamera.

[0130]FIG. 35C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the fourth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the bottom thereof.

[0131]FIG. 36A illustrates the top structure of the camera in accordancewith a fifth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0132]FIG. 36B illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the fifth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0133]FIG. 36C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the fifth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the left-hand side thereof with respect to thefront of the camera.

[0134]FIG. 37A illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the fifth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof.

[0135]FIG. 37B illustrates the structure of the camera in the fifthmodification of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, viewedfrom the right-hand side thereof with respect to the front of thecamera.

[0136]FIG. 37C illustrates the structure of the camera in accordancewith the fifth modification of the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the bottom thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0137] The embodiments with the drawings of the present invention willnow be discussed.

[0138] (First Embodiment)

[0139] The camera of a first embodiment of the present invention is adigital still camera. In the digital still camera, the image of asubject formed based on a light beam from the subject (hereinafterreferred to as a subject image light beam) incident on a photographingoptical system including a plurality of lens units is formed on subjectimage capturing means placed at a predetermined location, for example,on the light receiving surface of an image pickup device such as acharge-coupled device (CCD), then the subject image is recorded on apredetermined recording medium as a predetermined image data. Such acamera includes a predetermined display device for displaying the imagebased on the image data after reading the image data recorded in therecording medium in a predetermined form. In the discussion thatfollows, the camera of the first embodiment is simply referred to as thecamera.

[0140]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the camera in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustratethe layout of major components inside the camera of the first embodimentof the present invention, FIG. 2 illustrates the layout of thecomponents viewed from the front side of the camera, and FIG. 3illustrates the layout of the components viewed from the top.

[0141] The construction of the camera is roughly described below withreference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0142] Referring to FIG. 1, a camera 1 of this embodiment includes acasing formed of a front cover 11 covering the front side of internalcomponents (not shown in FIG. 1, and see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3), a backcover 12 covering the back of the camera 1, and an outer housing such asa barrier member 13 which is slidable with respect to the front cover 11in a direction represented by an arrow X in FIG. 1.

[0143] The barrier member 13 is slidably disposed with respect to thefront cover 11 of the camera 1 within a predetermined range, and ispositioned movably between a closed position at which the barrier member13 covers the front side of the camera 1, whereas a variety ofcomponents arranged in the vicinity of the center of the camera front,and a photographing position (for the state illustrated in FIG. 1) atwhich the front portion of the components are exposed. The barriermember 13 is interlocked with a main power switch 28 (see FIG. 2 andFIG. 3) which is mounted in the camera 1 and turns on and off the mainpower supply. By opening or closing the barrier member 13, the mainpower switch 28 interlocked therewith turns on and off the camera 1 .

[0144] Arranged substantially in the center of the front cover 11 are afirst lens 14 aa, of a photographing optical system, forming part of aphotographing lens unit 14 (not shown in FIG. 1, and see FIG. 2 and FIG.3), an objective lens 15 a, of a finder optical system, forming a partof a finder unit 15 (not shown in FIG. 1, and see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3),and a flash window 16 forming a portion of a flash emission device.

[0145] The front cover 11, out of the external housing members, includesa lens opening 11 a (see FIG. 4), as a subject image light beam entrywindow having an opening dimension that allows the subject image lightbeam incident on a first lens unit 14 a to pass therethrough, at apredetermined location facing the first lens 14 aa of the photographinglens unit 14. The lens opening 11 a is generally rectangular with thelong sides thereof aligned with an arrow X in FIG. 1.

[0146] The front sides of these components (the first lens 14 aa, theobjective lens 15 a, the flash window 16, etc.) are outwardly exposedwhen the barrier member 13 is placed at the photographing position shownin FIG. 1. When the barrier member 13 is placed at the closed position,these components are covered with the barrier member 13 and are thusprotected from the outside.

[0147] A shutter release button 17 is arranged on the top of the camera1 at a location close to one end of the camera 1. The shutter releasebutton 17 is interlocked with a shutter release switch (not shown) inthe camera 1.

[0148] A variety of operation members (not shown) and a display device27 (see FIG. 3) are arranged on the back of the camera 1.

[0149] The layout of major internal components arranged in the camera 1is discussed below with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0150] The major internal components in the camera 1 are thephotographing lens unit 14 including the photographing optical system,the finder unit 15 including the finder optical system, and a pluralityof electronic circuit boards.

[0151] The photographing lens unit 14, from among these components, isarranged at a predetermined location near the one end of the casing ofthe camera 1, namely, at a predetermined location in the vicinity of theright-hand end of the camera 1 when viewed from the front of the camera1. The finder unit 15 is integrally arranged with the photographing lensunit 14, at a predetermined location above the photographing lens unit14.

[0152] A plurality of electronic circuit boards arranged inside thecamera 1 includes a main board 22 arranged at a predetermined locationclose to the front surface of the camera 1, an image pickup board 23arranged at a predetermined location along one end of the camera 1, andbearing an image pickup device 23 a as subject image capturing meansthereon, an interconnection board 24 for connecting the image pickupboard 23 to the main board 22, an external interface board 25 on which avariety of connection terminals 25 a for connecting the camera 1 withexternal peripheral devices is mounted, and a stroboscopic power supplyboard 26 arranged behind the main board 22 in a location correspondingto substantially the center of the main board 22.

[0153] The main board 22 is arranged in the predetermined location closeto the front surface of the camera 1 as already discussed, and is partlycut away to form a cutout portion 22 d. The cutout portion 22 d is madeto assure space accommodating the photographing lens unit 14, the finderunit 15, etc.

[0154] A memory card drive 22 b is mounted on the surface of the mainboard 22 (on the front side of the camera 1) in the vicinity of the endportion thereof opposite from the other end where the cutout portion 22d is formed. The memory card drive 22 b detachably load and unload therecording medium to the camera, which is for storing video data etc.captured by the camera 1, and may be a thin planar card memory (notshown). The memory card drive 22 b stores (writes) video data onto thecard memory loaded thereinto in a predetermined format and reads thevideo data from the card memory.

[0155] The main power switch 28 is mounted on the main board 22 facingthe front side of the camera 1. The main power switch 28, which isinterlocked with the movement of the barrier member 13 in the directionrepresented by the arrow X in FIG. 1 as already discussed, turns on andoff the power supply of the camera 1.

[0156] The image pickup board 23 is arranged on the one side of thecamera 1 as already discussed, and bears electronic components such asthe image pickup device 23 a, etc. thereon. The image pickup board 23 isintegrated with the photographing lens unit 14 through the image pickupdevice 23 a in a unitary structure.

[0157] The interconnection board 24 connects the image pickup board 23and the main board 22. The image pickup board 23 is connected to theinterconnection board 24 using a predetermined flat cable 23 b, etc.,and the main board 22 and the interconnection board 24 are respectivelyprovided with the interconnect connectors 22 a and 24 a. The imagepickup board 23 is thus connected to the main board 22 via theinterconnect connectors 22 a and 24 a and the interconnection board 24.

[0158] The interface board 25 is a small circuit board on whichelectronic components such as connection terminals 25 a for connectingthe camera 1 to external peripheral devices using an interconnect cableare mounted. The external peripheral devices may include a power supplyinterface fed with power from an external power supply unit, in additionto a USB (Universal Serial Interface) compatible external recordingdevice, an external display or an external recording device having avideo signal interface receiving a video output signal.

[0159] The interface board 25 is connected to the main board 22 throughcable members (not shown) such as predetermined lead wires forconducting electrical signals.

[0160] Mounted on the stroboscopic power supply board 26 is a powersupply circuit which controls a power supply battery 18 a held in abattery holder 18 to be discussed later, or power supplied from anexternal power supply connection terminal of the connection terminals 25a mounted to the above-mentioned interface board 25. Also mounted on thestroboscopic power supply board 26 is a stroboscopic circuit forcontrolling a flash emission device. A stroboscopic capacitor 26 b forstoring electricity for causing the emitter 16 of the flash emissiondevice to flash is connected to the stroboscopic power supply board 26through a cable member 26 a.

[0161] The stroboscopic power supply board 26 and the main board 22 arerespectively provided with interconnect connectors 26 c and 22 c, andthe two boards are connected to each other through the interconnectconnectors 26 c and 22 c.

[0162] The battery holder 18 for housing a plurality of power supplybatteries 18 a serving as a main power supply is arranged on apredetermined location close to one end of the camera 1 within thecasing of the camera 1, on the left-hand side of the camera 1 whenviewed from the front of the camera 1. The battery holder 18 includeselectrical members (not shown) such as battery contacts for receivingpower supplied by the power supply batteries 18 a. These electricalmembers are connected to the above-mentioned stroboscopic power supplyboard 26 using typically available connection means (not shown). In thisway, the power of the power supply batteries 18 a is fed to thestroboscopic power supply board 26.

[0163] The display device 27 such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD) ismounted at a predetermined location within the casing of the camera 1substantially in the center on the back of the camera 1. A display board(not shown), on which a display circuit for controlling the displaydevice 27 is mounted, is arranged in the vicinity of the display device27. The display device 27 is connected to the main board 22 through thedisplay board.

[0164] The photographing optical system arranged in the photographinglens unit 14 in the camera 1 of this embodiment is discussed below.

[0165]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of thephotographing lens unit 14 in the camera 1 of this embodiment, takenalong line IV-IV in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates members closely relatedto the present invention, namely, mainly the layout of the photographingoptical system and components arranged in the optical path thereof, andcomponents loosely related to the present invention, for example, somecomponents in the photographing lens unit 14, are not shown forsimplicity of the drawing.

[0166] Referring to FIG. 4, the photographing optical system formed of aplurality of lenses is arranged in the photographing lens unit 14 of thecamera 1 of this embodiment.

[0167] The photographing optical system includes the plurality oflenses, and a reflective mirror 33 as reflective means for bending theoptical axis O of the photographing optical system arranged in theoptical path of these lenses into a desired direction by 90 degrees(approximately at a right angle).

[0168] The plurality of lenses includes two lenses (a first lens 14 aaand a second lens 14 ab) forming the first lens unit 14 a arranged at apredetermined location closer to the subject end than the reflectivemirror 33, and four lenses (a third lens 14 bb and other lenses) forminga second lens unit 14 b arranged at a predetermined location closer tothe image pickup device 23 a than the reflective mirror 33. In thiscase, the frontmost lens of the first lens unit 14 a arranged on thecamera 1 closer to the subject end than the reflective mirror 33 is thefirst lens 14 aa. A lens of the first lens unit 14 a closest to thereflective mirror 33 is the second lens 14 ab. A lens of the second lensunit 14 b, arranged on the side of the image pickup device 23 a withrespect to the reflective mirror 33, closest to the reflective mirror 33is the third lens 14 bb.

[0169] The first lens unit 14 a is held by a retainer member 32. Thefirst lens unit 14 a is mounted at a predetermined location within thecasing of the camera 1 with the optical axis thereof substantiallyperpendicular to the front plane of the camera 1. The first lens 14 aaof the first lens unit 14 a held by the retainer member 32 is placedimmediately behind the lens opening 11 a of the front cover 11.

[0170] The reflective mirror 33 is arranged substantially at 45 degreeswith respect to the optical axis behind the first lens unit 14 a. Thereflective mirror 33 is supported by an unshown fixing member frombehind. The reflective surface 33 a of the reflective mirror 33 facesthe image pickup device 23 a.

[0171] The subject image light beam incident on the lens opening 11 a istransmitted through the first lens unit 14 a, and is reflected from areflective surface 33 a of the reflective mirror 33. The optical axis isthus bent at about 90 degrees (approximately at a right angle). In thisway, the subject image light beam travels to the second lens unit 14 b,is transmitted through the second lens unit 14 b, and is guided to thephotoreceiving surface of the image pickup device 23 a.

[0172] The reflective mirror 33, installed in the optical path of thephotographing optical system formed of the first and second lens units14 a and 14 b, serves as a so-called bending optical system for bendingthe optical path.

[0173] An unwanted ray-of-light reflection prevention member 33 b asunwanted ray-of-light reflection prevention means (see FIG. 5) forpreventing rays of light from being reflected is mounted on a region,other than the region on which the subject image light beam to enter thereflective mirror 33 is incident, in the reflective surface 33 a as thereflective means at the reflective mirror 33. FIG. 5 illustrates thereflective mirror 33 only taken out of the components in thephotographing optical system in the camera 1 of the present inventionwith the side of the reflective surface 33 a of the reflective mirror 33shown.

[0174] Referring to FIG. 5, the reflective mirror 33 has the reflectivesurface 33 a in a predetermined area substantially in the center thereoffacing the first lens unit 14 a and the second lens unit 14 b. Theunwanted ray of light reflection prevention member 33 b is formed at apredetermined location near the periphery of the reflective mirror 33,other than the location of the reflective surface 33 a. The reflectivesurface 33 a as the reflective means of the reflective mirror 33 isarranged only on the region on which the light beam for forming thesubject image (the subject image light beam) is incident.

[0175] A shutter diaphragm unit 34 is arranged in the optical path ofthe ray of light bent by the reflective mirror 33, in the vicinity ofthe reflective mirror 33. The shutter diaphragm unit 34 includes ashutter member and a diaphragm member for controlling the incident lightquantity by limiting the subject image light beam incident on thephotographing optical system.

[0176] The second lens unit 14 b is arranged behind the shutterdiaphragm unit 34. As already described, the second lens unit 14 bincludes the four lenses. The four lenses are arranged side by sidepredetermined positions in parallel with respect to the front surface ofthe camera 1. Each lens is supported at the predetermined positionthereof by a lens barrel member 31.

[0177] The image pickup device 23 a is secured behind the second lensunit 14 b. As already discussed, the image pickup device 23 a is mountedon the image pickup board 23. In this way, the subject image light beamentering through the lens opening 11 a into the photographing lens unit14, is transmitted through the first lens unit 14 a, the reflectivemirror 33, the shutter diaphragm unit 34, and the second lens unit 14 b,and then reaches the image pickup device 23 a. The subject image is thusformed on the photoreceiving surface.

[0178] The photographing optical system in the photographing lens unit14 thus constructed is movably disposed as represented by the arrow X inFIG. 4 with a focus adjustment mechanism 45 including a motor 44. Thefocus adjustment operation is thus performed.

[0179] In this embodiment, the image pickup device 23 a and the imagepickup board 23 are integrally secured to stationary members (a framemember) in the photographing lens unit 14 within the casing of thecamera 1.

[0180] The focus adjustment operation in the camera 1 of this embodimentis performed by varying the distance between the reflective mirror 33and the image pickup device 23 a in response to the distance to thesubject with the above-mentioned focus adjustment mechanism 45.

[0181] Movable members including the reflective mirror 33, the firstlens unit 14 a, and the second lens unit 14 b and the retainer member 32and the lens barrel member 31 respectively supporting the first andsecond lens units 14 a and 14 b in the photographing lens unit 14 aremoved with respect to the stationary member (the frame member) in thephotographing lens unit 14 in the arrow X direction shown in FIG. 4 instep with the focus adjustment operation.

[0182] The movable members of the photographing lens unit 14 areintegrated into a unitary body, and the integrated movable members aresuspended by a guide shaft 35 supported in an arm 30 formed in thestationary member (the frame member) of the photographing lens unit 14.A compressible elastic member 36 such as a coil spring is loaded betweenthe movable members and the stationary member (the frame member). Inthis way, an elastic force continuously works on the movable members ofthe photographing lens unit 14 in the arrow X1 direction as shown inFIG. 4.

[0183] The focus adjustment mechanism 45 including the motor 44 forintegrally moving the movable members of the photographing lens unit 14is arranged between the proximal end of the lens barrel member 31 andthe image pickup device 23. In response to a predetermined commandsignal such as a command signal from the shutter release switch (notshown) interlocked with the shutter release button 17, the focusadjustment mechanism 45 starts a predetermined focus adjustmentoperation.

[0184] When the predetermined focus adjustment mechanism 45 moves thephotographing optical system in the photographing lens unit 14 of thecamera 1 in a predetermined direction for focus adjustment, the opticalaxis of the first lens unit 14 a moves in a predetermined direction (inthe arrow X direction shown in FIG. 4).

[0185] In the camera 1 of this embodiment, the opening shape of the lensopening 11 a corresponding to the first lens unit 14 a is rectangularwith the long sides thereof aligned with the direction represented bythe arrow X. Specifically, the lens opening 11 a as the subject imagelight beam window has the opening dimension that permits the subjectimage light beam incident on the first lens unit 14 a to be transmittedtherethrough. Furthermore, the dimensions of the long sides of therectangular lens opening 11 a are determined to permit the subject imagelight beam incident on the first lens unit 14 a to be transmittedtherethrough, regardless of when the distance between the reflectivemirror 33 and the image pickup device 23 a, to be varied in response tothe focus adjustment operation, is shortest or when the distance betweenthe reflective mirror 33 and the image pickup device 23 a is longest.Referring to FIG. 4, each of the light beam L1 when the reflectivemirror 33 and the image pickup device 23 a is shortest and the lightbeam L2 when the reflective mirror 33 and the image pickup device 23 ais longest is transmitted through the lens opening 11 a.

[0186] The length of the long sides of the lens opening 11 a is set inaccordance with the range within which the first lens unit 14 a ismoved.

[0187] In a general tendency, the shorter the focal length set by thephotographing optical system, in other words, the wider the angle ofview, the shorter the distance of travel of the lenses in thephotographing optical system in the focus adjustment operation. It iswidely known that the distance of travel of the lens required to performthe focus adjustment operation from infinity to the nearest range isshort with a wide-angle lens.

[0188] It is also known that if the nearest range to which the focusadjustment operation is performed is set to be slightly longer, forexample, to about 1 m, the focus adjustment operation from infinity tothe nearest range is performed with a substantially short distance oftravel of the lens compared with the case in which the nearest range isset shorter than 1 m.

[0189] In this embodiment, the optical axis O of the above-mentionedfirst lens unit 14 a is moved with respect to the casing of the camera 1in the X direction as illustrated in FIG. 4. In view of the above point,the focus adjustment operation of the photographing optical system canbe performed with the lens travel distance set to be sufficiently short.

[0190] The photographing optical system having a bending opticalmechanism thus constructed is subject to the generation of unwanted raysof light which become the cause of ghost and flare contributing nothingto the formation of the subject image, caused by light beams reflectedin unintended directions from the reflective mirror 33.

[0191] It is known that the photographing optical system having abending optical mechanism with the reflective mirror 33 in thisembodiment is more susceptible to unwanted rays of light than theconventional photographing optical system in which the optical axis islinear.

[0192] The photographing lens unit 14 in the camera 1 of this embodimenthas the following mechanism to control unwanted rays of light generatedin the vicinity of the reflective mirror 33.

[0193] Specifically, a first reflection prevention member 41 as firstdiaphragm means having the shape as shown in FIG. 6 is arranged on thesurface of the second lens 14 ab of the first lens unit 14 a arrangedclosest to and facing the reflective mirror 33. The first reflectionprevention member 41 is a thin circular member having a diametersubstantially equal to that of the second lens 14 ab. The firstreflection prevention member 41 has, in the center thereof, asubstantially square cutout portion 41 a with the four corners thereofrounded. FIG. 6 shows the shape of the first reflection preventionmember 41, viewed from the arrow B in FIG. 4.

[0194] The first reflection prevention member 41 blocks unwanted rays oflight other than the light beam that contributes to the formation of thesubject image on the image-forming surface of the image pickup device 23a, for example, blocks an oblique ray of light designated by a referencesymbol W1 in FIG. 4. The surface of the first reflection preventionmember 41 has a reflection prevention finish such as a matte finish.

[0195] Third diaphragm means is arranged in the vicinity of the surfaceof the third lens 14 bb of the second lens unit 14 b closest to andfacing the reflective mirror 33. The third diaphragm means blocksunwanted rays of light other than the light beam that contributes to theformation of the subject image, for example, blocks an oblique ray oflight designated by a reference symbol W2 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0196] The third diaphragm means in this embodiment is formed of a thirdreflection prevention member 43 having an opening which limits a portionof the subject image light beam reflected from the reflective mirror 33,and allows only the light beam contributing to the formation of thesubject image to be incident on the third lens 14 bb. The thirdreflection prevention member 43 is arranged, between the third lens 14bb and the reflective mirror 33, in the vicinity of the surface of thethird lens 14 bb facing the reflective mirror 33. The shape of the thirdreflection prevention member 43 is substantially identical to that ofthe opening 41 a of the first reflection prevention member 41.

[0197] In this arrangement, a small gap is yielded between the thirdreflection prevention member 43 and the third lens 14 bb. A portion ofthe ray of light, transmitted through the opening of the thirdreflection prevention member 43 and incident on the third lens 14 bb,may be reflected in the vicinity of the periphery of the third lens 14bb and may become unwanted reflections of light contributing nothing tothe formation of the subject image.

[0198] In this embodiment, the diameter of the third lens 14 bb(designated by a reference symbol D1 as shown in FIG. 4) is set to belarger than the inner diameter of the opening (designated by a referencesymbol D2 as shown in FIG. 4) of the third diaphragm means (the thirdreflection prevention member 43). In this way, the third lens 14 bbtransmits the ray of light incident thereon through substantially thecenter thereof, while preventing a portion of the ray of light frombeing reflected from the peripheral portion thereof. Like the firstreflection prevention member 41, the surface of the third reflectionprevention member 43 has a reflection prevention finish such as a mattefinish.

[0199] A second reflection prevention member 42 as second diaphragmmeans is arranged on a predetermined wall surface present in the spacebetween the first lens unit 14 a and the second lens unit 14 b, namely,a wall surface 32 a of the retainer member 32 holding the first lensunit 14 a, which could receive light beams reflected from the reflectivemirror 33. The second reflection prevention member 42 blocks an unwantedray of light W3 that travels outside a predetermined position(designated by a reference symbol Q as shown in FIG. 4) at which thesubject image light beam traveling from the first lens unit 14 a to thereflective mirror 33 intersects the subject light beam reflected fromthe reflective mirror 33 and then traveling to the second lens unit 14b.

[0200] The second reflection prevention member 42 is fabricated of asubstantially U-shaped thin member having a cutout portion 42 a on oneside thereof as shown in FIG. 7. The semicircular cutout portion 42 a isopened from substantially the center to the one end thereof. FIG. 7shows the shape of the second reflection prevention member 42, viewedfrom the arrow B in FIG. 4.

[0201] The second reflection prevention member 42 thus formed blocksrays of light other than the light beam contributing to the formation ofthe subject image on the image formation surface of the image pickupdevice 23 a, namely, an oblique ray of light W3 shown in FIG. 4. Likethe first reflection prevention member 41, the surface of the secondreflection prevention member 42 has a reflection prevention finish suchas a matte finish.

[0202] As discussed above, in accordance with the first embodiment, thereflective mirror 33 is arranged in the optical path between the firstlens unit 14 a and the second lens unit 14 b to bend the optical path ofthe subject image light beam transmitted through the first lens unit 14a by an approximately right angle toward the second lens unit 14 b, andthe subject image light beam transmitted through the second lens unit 14b is thus guided to the photoreceiving surface of the image pickupdevice 23 a. The subject image is formed there. In this case, a minimumnecessary light collection function is performed by a minimum number oflens elements in the first lens unit 14 a that is arranged before thesubject image light beam is bent by the reflective mirror 33. Inaddition, a sufficient focus adjustment function is performed with thephotographing optical system moved in the arrow X direction shown inFIG. 4. In these arrangements, the thin design is introduced in thecasing of the camera 1 in the fore-aft direction. A substantialimprovement in portability of the camera 1 thus results.

[0203] To block or control unwanted rays of light, a plurality ofdiaphragm members (the first reflection prevention member 41, the secondreflection prevention member 42, and the third reflection preventionmember 43) are arranged at the predetermined location at which thesubject image light beam is about to enter the reflective mirror 33, andat the location at which the subject image light beam reflected from thereflective mirror 33 is just output. The unwanted ray-of-lightreflection prevention member 33 b is arranged on the reflective surface33 a of the reflective mirror 33 to totally block or control theunwanted rays of light. A subject image light beam in a good state iseasily obtained.

[0204] The camera 1 of this embodiment is a so-called digital stillcamera having the image pickup device 23 a as the subject imagecapturing means. The present invention is not limited to thisarrangement. The present invention is easily applied to an ordinarycamera that uses a camera film as the subject image capturing means.

[0205] As described above, the camera having the photographing opticalsystem with the bending optical mechanism including the reflective meansin the optical path blocks an unwanted ray of light unnecessary to formthe subject image, out of the incident light beams, thereby forming asubject image in an excellent state on the image-forming surface.

[0206] With the photographing optical system having the axis bendingoptical mechanism employed, the fore-aft dimension of the camera isreduced. The photographing optical system thus helps miniaturize theentire camera structure.

[0207] (Second Embodiment)

[0208] A second embodiment of the present invention is discussed belowwith reference to the drawings.

[0209]FIG. 8 through FIG. 11 illustrate a camera in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is an externalperspective view of the camera of the second embodiment of the presentinvention, viewed from the front thereof, FIG. 9 is an externalperspective view of the camera viewed from behind, FIG. 10 is anexploded perspective view illustrating the internal structure of thecamera of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 illustrates a layout constituting thecharacteristic of the camera of this embodiment.

[0210] Referring to FIG. 8, the camera 51 of this embodiment includesmainly a casing 52 having a flat and elongated structure. The casing 52is formed of a front side cover (hereinafter referred to as a frontcover) 53 and a back side cover (hereinafter referred to as a backcover) 54 as outer housing members for sandwiching a chassis 55 on whichoptical members and electronic circuit components required to takepicture, as will be discussed later, are mounted.

[0211] With the front cover 53 and the back cover 54 secured to eachother, the casing 52 forms a first grip portion 51A near a releasebutton 56 appearing on the left end thereof, and a second grip portion51B arranged on the other end thereof (on the right end thereof asshown).

[0212] The first grip portion 51A is mainly formed as a part of the backcover 54. The corresponding portion on the back cover 54 becomes thethickest in the thickness of the flat configuration when viewed towardthe length direction thereof. The thickest portion of the back cover 54forms the first grip portion 51A, which can be firmly gripped by a user.This arrangement prevents the camera 51 from being trembled duringphotographing, and is appropriate for a one-handed picture takingoperation. The user typically holds the camera 51 with the first andsecond grip portions 51A and 51B respectively gripped by both hands.

[0213] The release button 56 is arranged on the top surface of the firstgrip portion 51A of the casing 52. The release button 56 is switchingmeans, and upon being pressed, the release button 56 executes thepicture taking operation. The release button 56 is mounted on thechassis 55 to be discussed later, and is exposed through cutout portions53 a and 54 a (see FIG. 10) respectively formed in the front cover 53and the back cover 54, which are secured to each other.

[0214] A barrier main switch 53A is arranged on the front cover 53 ofthe front of the casing 52, and remains laterally slidable with respectto the front cover 53. When the barrier main switch 53A is moved in aleftward direction when viewed from the front of the camera as shown inFIG. 8, the barrier main switch 53A, interlocked with a power switch(not shown) arranged on a main board 70 within the camera 51, turns onthe power supply of the camera 51.

[0215] While the camera 51 is not used during the carrying or keepingthereof, the barrier main switch 53A, interlocked with the power switch,is slid in a rightward direction when viewed from the front of thecamera 51 as shown in FIG. 8, thereby turning off the power of thecamera 51. In its position, the barrier main switch 53A covers andprotects components such as a finder window 57A, a photographing lens58, and a self-timer LED 60 arranged on one side of the front of thecamera 51.

[0216] In the camera 51 of this embodiment, the above-mentioned finderwindow 57A and the photographing lens 58 in the photographing opticalsystem, and components such as a stroboscopic light emission unit 59,and the self-timer LED 60 to be used in photographing are arranged onthe front cover 53 on the right-hand side of the casing 52 when viewedfrom the front of the camera 51.

[0217] Arranged on the other side of the front cover 53, namely, theleft-hand side of the front of the casing 52, when viewed from the frontof the camera 51, is a media slot cover 53B which is opened and closedto the outside to load and unload a memory card as a recording mediumfor recording a captured picture video.

[0218] Two shaft locks 53 b and 53 b are formed on the base of the mediaslot cover 53B. The media slot cover 53B is closed or opened with ashaft 53 d, supported by two shaft sockets 53 c and 53 c formed on thefront cover 53, and engaged with the shaft locks 53 b and 53 b. Asshown, the media slot cover 53B is held in a closed state with unshownlock means.

[0219] The media slot cover 53B is opened and closed when a memory cardas a recording medium, such as a smart medium, is loaded into orunloaded from a media slot (a media socket) arranged at a correspondinglocation inside the casing 52.

[0220] Arranged on the back cover 54 forming the casing 52 are a finder57B, an operation switch group 62, and a display 63 as shown in FIG. 9.

[0221] The finder 57B is mounted on near the top edge of the back cover54 close to the second grip portion 51B. The user looks into the finder57B to observe a subject.

[0222] The operation switch group 62 is arranged on the back cover 54near the second grip portion 51B of the casing 52. The operation switchgroup 62 includes a plurality of switches 62 a to 62 c to perform avariety of modes. Each of the plurality of switches 62 a to 62 c may befabricated of a push-type switch. The switch 62 a is a menu selectionswitch for selecting a menu of a photograph mode of the camera 51. Theswitch 62 b is an LCD drive switch for turning on and off the display63. An operation switch 62 c, including at least four switchingelements, performs detailed settings for the determined photograph modeand other settings. For example, upper and lower switching elements mayperform electronic zoom-in and zoom-out operations, and right and leftswitching elements may select a stroboscopic light emission mode and mayoperate a macro photograph mode (a close-up photograph mode).

[0223] The display 63 is arranged near the operation switch group 62.Like the operation switch group 62, the display 63 is arranged on theback cover 54 near the second grip of the casing 52. For example, thedisplay 63 may be manufactured of a transmissive type TFT LCD, and itsscreen is exposed through a cutout portion 54B in the back cover 54. Thedisplay 63 displays a photographed image formed based on a capturedvideo signal or a recorded video signal, in addition to a various typesof setting information and other photographing information etc.

[0224] A connection terminal bank 61 is arranged on the bottom portionof the second grip portion 51B of the back cover 54. The connectionterminal bank 61 includes DC power supply terminals 61 a to receive DCpower, video output terminals 61 b to output a captured video signal toan external device, and USB terminals 61 c. The connection terminalcover 54A is detachably fitted to cover the connection terminal bank 61.

[0225] The internal structure of the camera 51 of this embodiment willbe detailed with reference to FIG. 10.

[0226] The camera 51 of this embodiment features the adoption of abending type photographing optical system to effectively incorporate athin design thereinto.

[0227] The bending type photographing optical system refers to anoptical system in which the subject image light beam (an incident lightbeam) transmitted through the photographing lens 58 arranged in thefront cover is bent at an approximately right angle by the reflectivemirror, and is formed on the image-forming surface of a CCD arranged onthe end of the elongated casing 52. Unlike the conventional opticalsystem, the bending type photographing optical system bends the subjectimage light beam at an approximately right angle with respect to theoptical axis of the photographing lens to form the subject image lightbeam on the CCD. The bending type photographing optical system thusprovides an advantage that the dimension of the camera 51 in the opticalaxis, namely, the depth dimension of the camera 51 is reduced.

[0228] A lens unit 67 incorporating such a bending type photographingoptical system is arranged on the end of right-hand side portion of thechassis 55 sandwiched between the front cover 53 and the back cover 54as shown in FIG. 10.

[0229] The lens unit 67 has the photographing lens 58 disposed on thefront thereof, and has in its inside a reflective mirror for reflectingand thus bending the subject image light beam, a plurality of opticallens units, an AF (auto focusing) drive mechanism including a drivemotor for performing an AF operation, and an image pickup board 66having a CCD.

[0230] The image pickup board 66, including the CCD and a processingcircuit for converting the subject image formed on the CCD into a videosignal, is mounted on one side of the lens unit 67. The two opposedsides of the image pickup board 66 are arranged to be respectively closeto the front side and the back side of the casing 52 when the frontcover 53 and the back cover 54 are assembled together.

[0231] The subject image light beam from the photographing lens 58 isreflected and bent by an unshown reflective mirror and is then formed onthe unshown CCD mounted on the image pickup board 66. The formed subjectimage is converted into a video signal through the processing circuits(not shown) of the image pickup board 66, and is then fed to majorprocessing circuits on the main board 70 as shown.

[0232] An optical finder unit 57 is mounted on the lens unit 67. Alongwith the lens unit 67, the optical finder unit 57 is mounted on thechassis 55 on the right-hand side thereof when viewed from the front ofthe camera 51.

[0233] A battery holder 65 for housing a power supply battery serving asa power supply for the camera 51 is integrally formed with the other endof the base portion of the chassis 55. Specifically, the battery holder65 is arranged on the chassis 55 in a location on the other side of thelocation of the lens unit 67. The battery holder 65, formed on the backside of the chassis 55, has a minimum depth size capable of housing thepower supply battery.

[0234] The chassis 55 has, in the center thereof between the batteryholder 65 and the lens unit 67, a cutout portion 55A. Formed above thecutout portion 55A are a holding wall 55 a and a seat 55 b for holding acapacitor 69.

[0235] The camera 51 of this embodiment has a stroboscopic lightemission function. The capacitor 69 is required to store much charge forflash emission. To promote thin design, the manner of mounting of thecapacitor 69 is also important.

[0236] In this embodiment, the capacitor 69 is engaged in the lyingposition thereof within the holding wall 55 a and the seat 55 bintegrally formed with the chassis 55. With the capacitor 69 engaged,the spacing between the holding wall 55 a and the seat 55 b is almostequal to the depth size of the battery holder 65. This arrangementgreatly contributes to the thin design of the camera 51.

[0237] The capacitor 69 is mounted on the upper side of a power board 68on which a charging circuit for storing charge in the capacitor 69 and aplurality of circuits such as a trigger circuit for triggering astroboscopic light emission unit 69 are fabricated, and is thuselectrically connected to these circuits.

[0238] When the power board 68 is assembled onto the chassis 55, thecapacitor 69 seated on the upper portion thereof is engaged into theholding wall 55 a and the seat 55 b while the power board 68 is pivotedtoward the cutout portion 55A of the chassis 55. In this case, the powerboard 68 is positioned with a mounting hole A1 and alignment holes A2and A3 respectively being engaged into mounting projection al andalignment projections a2 and a3 arranged at the respective positions ofthe chassis 55. Furthermore, the top edge of the power board 68 ispressed against an abutment portion 55 d formed on the outside of theholding wall 55 a until it is locked by a claw of an elastic hook 55 c.The power board 68 is thus positioned in alignment.

[0239] The power board 68 is mounted to the chassis 55 in a manner thatpermits slight degrees of vertical and horizontal looseness so that thepower board 68 is easily connected to a main board 70 through connectors73 (see FIG. 11 ).

[0240] In this embodiment, the main board 70 for the camera 51 ismounted on the chassis 55 so that the main board 70 overlaps the entirearea of the power board 68.

[0241] The main board 70 has a horizontally aligned U-shaped cutoutportion with a pair of opposing first and second lip portions 70 a and70 b, which abut from above and from below the lens unit 67, and fullycovers the front of the chassis 55. In other words, the main board 70 issized and configured in a shape appropriate for miniaturization and thindesign, and is mounted in a location also appropriate forminiaturization and thin design. The main board 70 is maximized in areawith respect to the compact camera 51.

[0242] Mounted on the main board 70 are a variety of circuits, atappropriate locations, such as a control circuit for performingsubstantially all functions of the camera 51, an interlock switch (notshown) which is interlocked with the barrier main switch 53A, theself-timer LED, and a buzzer 72 which generates its sound in response toa camera operation.

[0243] In this embodiment, a media slot (a media socket) 71, throughwhich a memory card as a recording medium, such as a smart medium, isinstalled in a detachable manner, is on the left-hand side of the mainboard 70 when viewed from the front of the camera 51.

[0244] To mount the main board 70 on the chassis 55, the main board 70is positioned in alignment, with respective mounting projections b1 andb2 and alignment projection b3 arranged at respective positions on thechassis 55 inserted into respective mounting holes B1 and B2 andalignment hole B3, with the power board 68 being attached onto thechassis 55.

[0245] The main board 70 is electrically connected to the power board68, with a connector (not shown) mounted on the back surface of the mainboard 70 being mated to a connector mounted on the surface of the powerboard 68. Since the power board 68 is tentatively fixed with a slightdegree of looseness permitted, the mating of the connectors is easilyperformed. Screws are driven around the mounting projections b1 and b2of the chassis 55, securing the power board 68 and the main board 70 tothe chassis 55.

[0246] With the main board 70 secured to the chassis 55, a batteryholder 65 comes behind the media slot 71. The battery holder 65 and themedia slot 71 are arranged on the left-hand side of the chassis 55 whenviewed from the front of the camera 51. The power board 68 is arrangedbehind the center portion of the main board 70.

[0247] A display 63 and a switch board 62A are arranged on the innersurface of the back cover 54 which clamps the chassis 55 against thefront cover 53 as shown in FIG. 10. The display 63 and the switch board62A are arranged on the right-hand side of the back cover 54 when viewedfrom the front of the camera 51, namely, on the corresponding side ofthe lens unit 67 of the chassis 55 that is accommodated in the backcover 54.

[0248] A switch board 62A is electrically connected to the operationswitch group 62 arranged on the back surface of the back cover 54. Theoperation switch group 62 generates an operation signal in response tothe operation of each switch, and feeds it to the main board 70.

[0249] A metal plate 64 is arranged to cover the display 63 and theswitch board 62A. The back light for the display 63 is driven by a highvoltage. The metal plate 64 controls, on other circuits, the effect ofnoise that could be generated by the back light driven by the highvoltage. A pair of plate springs 64 a and 64 b is formed on the metalplate 64. With their elastic force, the plate springs 64 a and 64 babsorb the looseness arisen between the back cover 54 and the display 63when both components are assembled to each other. Contacts, although notshown, are extended from the top edge of the metal plate 64, andgrounding is established more easily using the contacts than in theconventional art.

[0250] The chassis 55 thus constructed is sandwiched between the frontcover 53 and the back cover 54, and then this assembly is screwed frombehind the back cover 54 using screws. The assembly of the camera 51 ofthis embodiment is now complete.

[0251] Referring to FIG. 11, in the camera 51 of this embodiment, thebattery holder 65 and the media slot 71 are arranged close to the firstgrip portion 51A in the flat casing 52, the lens unit 67 is arrangedclose to the second grip portion 51B opposed to the side of the firstgrip portion 51A, and the operation switch group 62 and the switch board62A are arranged behind the lens unit 67.

[0252] The battery holder 65 is arranged in alignment with the directionof depth of the flat casing 52 that accommodates the first grip portion51A as shown. The media slot 71, with the main board 70 sandwichedbetween itself and the battery holder 65, is also arranged in alignmentwith the direction of depth of the flat casing 52 that accommodates thefirst grip portion 51A.

[0253] At least one of the operation switch group 62 and the display 63is stacked on the lens unit 67 in the direction of depth of the casing52. The operation switch group 62 and the display 63 are arranged not tooverlap each other in a projection plane of the casing 52 when viewedfrom the subject end.

[0254] The lens unit 67 is arranged not to overlap any of the batteryholder 65 and the media slot 71 in a front projection plane of thecasing 52 when viewed from the subject end.

[0255] Referring to FIG. 11, a reference numeral 74 designates aconnector for electrically connecting the main board 70 to the imagepickup board 66. A reference numeral 73 designates a connector forelectrically connecting the main board 70 to the power board 68.

[0256] In accordance with this embodiment, the optical system itself isthinned by mounting the lens unit 67 incorporating the bending opticalsystem. This arrangement allows one of the operation switch group 62 andthe display 63 to overlap the lens unit 67 from behind. Furthermore, byarranging the battery holder 65 and the media slot 71 in the casing 52on the side of the first grip portion 51A, the entire camera is easilythinned and the projection area of the casing 52 is minimized whenviewed from the front thereof.

[0257] The power supply battery, which is a very important component, ishoused in the battery holder 65 arranged in the first grip portion 51A.The power supply battery assures weight balance with the camera 51 heldin the hands, thereby substantially improving the ease of use.

[0258] In its manufacturing process, the camera 51 is assembled byclamping the chassis 55 having the major components already mountedthereon, between the front cover 53 and the back cover 54. Thisarrangement simplifies the assembly steps, thereby improving assemblyyields. With the simplified assembly steps, manufacturing costs aresubstantially reduced, leading to a low-cost camera 51.

[0259] (Modifications)

[0260] In the operation of the camera 51, the user maybe photographs asubject with the camera 51 with the first grip portion 51A held by onehand only. In such an operation, a variety of operational steps can beperformed with the first grip portion 51A gripped in one hand. If theLCD of the display 63 is further thinned in the present invention andthe operation switch group 62 is arranged in the vicinity of the firstgrip portion 51A, one-handed operation becomes possible. Such anembodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0261]FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a modification of the second embodimentof the camera of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective viewillustrating the external structure of the camera in accordance with themodification of the second embodiment of the present invention, viewedfrom behind the camera, and FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the camera,illustrating the layout of the camera characteristic of the modificationof second embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 12 and 13,components identical to those discussed in connection with the camera 51of the above-reference embodiment are designated with the same referencenumerals, and the discussion thereof is omitted here, and differenceonly is discussed below.

[0262] In accordance with the modification of the second embodiment, aneven thinner LCD display 63A is used instead of the display 63 used inthe preceding embodiment. The display 63A is arranged behind the bendingtype optical lens unit 67, and an operation switch group 62B is arrangedon the back cover 54 close to the first grip portion 51A.

[0263] The general construction of a camera 60 of this embodiment isidentical to that of the camera 51 of the preceding embodiment.Referring to FIG. 12, the operation switch group 62B is arranged on theback cover 54 close to the first grip portion 51A of the casing 52, andthe thin type display 63A is arranged on the back cover 54 close to thesecond grip portion 51B on the opposite side of the casing 52.

[0264] The layout of the camera 60 is discussed in detail referring toFIG. 13. In the flat casing 52 of the camera 60, the battery holder 65,the media slot 71, and the operation switch group 62B including theswitch board 62A are arranged close to the first grip portion 51A, andthe lens unit 67 is arranged close to the second grip portion 51Bopposite from the side of the first grip portion 51A, and the display63A is arranged behind the lens unit 67.

[0265] The display 63A, which is improved to be thinner, is stacked onthe lens unit 67 in the direction of depth of the casing 52. As in thepreceding embodiment, the display 63A and the operation switch group 62Bare arranged not to overlap each other in the projection area whenviewed from the subject. The rest of the construction of the secondembodiment remains unchanged from that of the preceding embodiment.

[0266] The modification of the second embodiment provides the sameadvantages as those of the preceding embodiments. The operation switchgroup 62B, arranged near the first grip portion 51A, is within easyreach of the fingers of the user with the first grip portion 51A held byone hand of the user. The user thus easily performs a one-handedoperation on the camera 60.

[0267] In accordance with the present embodiment, the camera employs thelens unit 67 including the bending type optical system. If thinner andmore compact designs are incorporated in a variety of components such asthe power supply battery and the display LCD, these components may becombined in an appropriate layout.

[0268] In accordance with the present embodiment, the thin design isincorporated, the projection area of the camera when viewed from theprojection optical axis is minimized, and the ease of use of the camerais assured. The ease of assembly is also promoted, resulting in alow-cost and compact camera.

[0269] (Third Embodiment)

[0270] A third embodiment of the present invention will now be discussedreferring to the drawings.

[0271]FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 14 through FIG. 17 illustrate thethird embodiment of the present invention.

[0272]FIG. 14 through FIG. 16B show the layout of the camera of thethird embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a plan viewillustrating a chassis, on which an optical system having an imagepickup board thereof is mounted, in the camera, FIG. 15 is a plan viewillustrating the layout of the optical device, a main board, and a powerboard in the camera, FIG. 16A is a top view illustrating the chassis, onwhich components, such as the optical device, the main board, and thepower board are mounted, in the camera, and FIG. 16B is a side view ofthe chassis in FIG. 16A, viewed from the image pickup board.

[0273]FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 have been already discussed inconnection with the second embodiment, and the discussion thereof isomitted here.

[0274] The layout characteristic of this embodiment of the presentinvention will be detailed with reference to FIG. 14 through FIG. 16B.

[0275]FIG. 14 is the plan view of the chassis 55 on which the lens unit67, illustrated in FIG. 10, is mounted. As shown, in the camera 51 ofthis embodiment, the lens unit 67 having a bending type optical systemis arranged on a chassis 65 close to the right-hand side of the camera51. An image pickup board 66, to which an output signal from the CCD isfed, is attached to the sidewall of the lens unit 67. In this case, theimage pickup board 66 is substantially parallel with the image pickupsurface (not shown) of the CCD arranged on the image pickup surface ofthe lens unit 67.

[0276] As already discussed, the battery holder 65 is arranged near theother end of the chassis 55, opposite from the lens unit 67. In thiscase, the battery holder 65 is arranged in alignment with the directionof depth of the flat casing 52 in the vicinity of the first grip portion51A.

[0277] Specifically, in this embodiment, the image pickup board 66 isarranged on the sidewall of the lens unit 67, and the lens unit 67 andthe battery holder 65 are arranged not to overlap each other in theprojection plane of the casing 52 when viewed from the front of thecamera 51.

[0278] By the way, the circuit scale of a processing and control circuitfor performing a series of processes on video signals, recording thevideo signal on the recording medium, and controlling actuators andsensors becomes large in general in digital cameras. For this reason,the circuit is split among a plurality of circuit boards, which are thenmutually connected through a number of connectors.

[0279] The processing and control circuits are closely related to eachother in function, and it would be advantageous to accommodate allcircuits on a single board from the standpoint of circuit arrangementand circuit board construction. Such an arrangement substantiallycontributes to the miniaturization of the camera, but no such effort hasbeen made.

[0280] In this embodiment of the present invention, the processing andcontrol functions are concentrated on a single main board 20, while themain board 70 is shaped into an optimum configuration so as to meet thedual purposes of maximizing the area of the main board 70 within thecamera and of thinning the camera.

[0281] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the main board 70 has a cutoutportion 70A which is defined by first and second opposed lip portions 70a and 70 b. The main board 70 substantially coextends with the front ofthe chassis 55 in a manner such that no portion thereof overlaps thelens unit 67 when viewed in the direction of depth of the casing 52.

[0282] The lens unit 67 is received into the cutout portion 70A betweenthe first and second lip portions 70 a and 70 b, in other words,interposed between the first and second lip portions 70 a and 70 b sothat no portion of the main board 70 overlaps the lens unit 67. Thisarrangement allows the main board 70 to be maximized in area within thecamera. The resulting main board 70 helps miniaturize and thin thecamera 51.

[0283] In this embodiment, the image pickup board 66 having the CCD asdescribed above is attached on the sidewall of the lens unit 67. Signalprocessing circuits for preprocessing signals prior to outputting to themain board 70 are arranged on the image pickup board 66. Thisarrangement reduces the circuit scale of the main board 70 to somedegree, thereby reducing the size of the main board 70.

[0284] The processing circuits required to convert the subject imagefrom the CCD into a video signal are mounted on the image pickup board66 and these processing circuits perform pre-processing steps as much aspossible to lighten signal processing function to be performed on themain board 70. As a result, the main board 70 is reduced in size, andremains to be a single board, eliminating the need for splitting themain board 70.

[0285] Arranged on the end of the first lip portion 70 a of the mainboard 70 is a connector 73 which is electrically connected to the imagepickup board 66 as shown in FIG. 15. The connector 73 electricallyconnects the image pickup board 66 to the main board 70 via sheet-likeinterconnect lines 66 a extending from the top edge of the image pickupboard 66. The connector 73 is thus arranged in accordance with thelayout of the image pickup board 66 and the main board 70, therebyshortening the electrical path between the image pickup board 66 and themain board 70. The resulting electrical connection serves the purpose ofthinning the casing, and dispenses with redundant wiring.

[0286] Arranged on the end of the second lip portion 70 b of the mainboard 70 are a connector 74 and a connector 75 arranged side by side.The connector 74 is electrically connected to the switch board 62A (seeFIG. 10) arranged on the back of the back cover 54. The connector 75 iselectrically connected to the display 63 to exchange video data such asthe video signal with the display 63. The electrical paths to thedisplay 63 and the switch board 62A are also shortened. The resultingelectrical connection serves the purpose of thinning the casing, anddispenses with redundant wiring.

[0287] The main board 70 in this embodiment on the other end thereofoverlaps the battery holder 65, opposite from the first and second 70 aand 70 b as shown in FIG. 16A, when viewed in the direction of depth ofthe casing. A connector 76 is mounted on the center of the main board 70on its back surface, and the main board 70 is electrically connectedthrough the connector 76 to a power board 68 which is mounted at alocation appropriate for thinning the structure of the camera.

[0288] In the camera 51 of this embodiment, the lens unit 67 and avariety of components are mounted on the chassis 55, and the batteryholder 65 (and the media slot 71 although not shown) is then arranged onthe chassis 55 housed in the casing 52 as shown in FIG. 16A close to thefirst grip portion 51A. The lens unit 67 is arranged on the chassis 55close to the second grip portion 51B, opposite from the first gripportion 51A. The image pickup board 66 is attached on the sidewall ofthe lens unit 67.

[0289] The main board 70 is stacked on the battery holder 65 of thechassis 55 when viewed in the direction of depth of the casing 52, andreceives the lens unit 67 in the cutout portion thereof, therefore notstacked on the lens unit 67 when viewed in the direction of depth of thelens unit 67. The main board 70 generally coextends with the projectionplane of the casing 52 when viewed from the subject. The two sides ofthe image pickup board 66 are respectively arranged to be close to thefront surface and the back surface of the casing 52. Subsequent to itsassembly, the switch board 62A, although not shown, is arranged to be atleast partly stacked on the lens unit 67 when viewed in the direction ofdepth of the casing 52.

[0290] In this arrangement, the chassis 55 with the components mountedthereon as shown in FIG. 16B is thin, thereby leading to a thin andcompact camera 51.

[0291] The power supply battery becomes large in size for its powerrequirement in digital cameras. A capacitor for emitting a stroboscopiclight needs to be mounted. The arrangement of these components and themounting of boards in a high density within a camera is issues to beaddressed. With the above arrangement in accordance with thisembodiment, however, the camera is successfully thinned andminiaturized.

[0292] With the lens unit 67 having the bending type optical system, theimage pickup board 66 becomes perpendicular to the main board 70.Therefore, the image pickup board 66 coextending with thecross-sectional area of the camera 51 is used. The large-scale mainboard 70 is accordingly reduced in size. Connectors in use are simplymated with the mutually perpendicular faces thereof connected to eachother. The connectors are simplified in structure and miniaturized insize, leading to a further compact camera 51. Since a media slot 71 isarranged on the main board 70 at a predetermined location withconnection terminals directly mounted on the main board 70, noadditional wiring is required. The camera is thus further miniaturized.The camera 51 is assembled by clamping the chassis 55 having majorcomponents thereon between the front cover 53 and the back cover 54.This arrangement simplifies the assembly steps, thereby improvingassembly yields. With the simplified assembly steps, manufacturing costsare substantially reduced, leading to a low-cost camera 51.

[0293] (Modifications)

[0294]FIG. 17 is a plan view of a camera in accordance with amodification of the third embodiment of the present invention,illustrating the layout of the mounting position of the optical device,and the shape of the main board. Referring to FIG. 17, componentsidentical to those discussed in connection with the camera 51 of theabove-reference embodiment are designated with the same referencenumerals, and the discussion thereof is omitted here, and differenceonly is discussed below.

[0295] In this embodiment, the main board 70 has, at one corner thereof,a cutout portion 70B which is defined by a lip portion 70 c, andreceives the lens unit 67 in the cutout portion 70B. The mountingposition of the lens unit 67 is thus different from that in thepreceding embodiment. The rest of the construction of this modificationis substantially identical to that of the camera 51 of the thirdembodiment.

[0296] Specifically, referring to FIG. 17, the main board 70 has thecutout portion 70B, thereby forming the one lip portion 70 c. The mainboard 70 generally coextends with the front of the chassis 55 in amanner such that the main board 70 does not stack on the lens unit 67when viewed in the direction of depth of the casing 52.

[0297] With the lens unit 67 fitted into the cutout portion 70B of themain board 70, in other words, with the lens unit 67 received in thecutout portion 70B of the main board 70, the main board 70 is free fromoverlapping the lens unit 67. The main board 70 is thus maximized inarea within the camera.

[0298] The image pickup board 66 is attached to the sidewall of the lensunit 67 as in the preceding embodiment, and the image pickup board 66extends down to its bottom portion along with the lens unit 67. As inthe preceding embodiment, a connector 73 is arranged on the end of thelip portion 70 c of the main board 70. The connector 73 electricallyconnects the image pickup board 66 to the main board 70 through thesheet-like lines 66 a extending from the bottom portion of the imagepickup board 66. The electrical path between the image pickup board 66and the main board 70 is shortened. The resulting electrical connectionserves the purpose of thinning the casing, and dispenses with redundantwiring.

[0299] As in the preceding embodiment, a connector 74 and a connector 75are arranged on the lip portion 70 c on predetermined locations. Theconnector 74 is electrically connected to the switch board 62A (see FIG.10). The connector 75 is electrically connected to the display 63 toexchange video data of video signals with the display 63. The resultingelectrical connection serves the purpose of thinning the casing, anddispenses with redundant wiring.

[0300] In this arrangement, the resulting main board 70 has aconfiguration appropriate for the miniaturization and thinning of thecamera 51. The rest of the construction of the camera 51 remainsunchanged from that of the preceding embodiment. However, in accordancewith the modification in the layout of the lens unit 67, a variety ofcomponents may be changed in their shapes and mounting locations asnecessary.

[0301] In accordance with this modification, the main board 70 has, onthe one corner of the one end, the cutout portion 70B which is definedby the lip portion 70 c and receives the lens unit 67. The lens unit 67arranged in the modified position provides the same advantages as thoseof the preceding embodiment, thereby greatly contributing to the thinand compact design of the camera 51.

[0302] The present invention is not limited to the third embodiment andthe modification thereof, and a combination and a change of theseembodiments fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0303] In this embodiment, the image pickup board 66 is attached on thesidewall of the lens unit 67. The present invention is not limited tothis arrangement. Depending on the mounting position of the lens unit67, the image pickup board 66 may be mounted on the top surface or thebottom surface of the lens unit 67. The main board 70 may be shaped intoan optimum configuration, according to the mounting position of theimage pickup board 66. The electrical connection therebetween is thusestablished through connectors.

[0304] In accordance with the present embodiment, the camera employs thelens unit 67 including the bending type optical system. In the camera,if thinner and more compact designs are incorporated in a variety ofcomponents such as the power supply battery and the display LCD, thesecomponents may be combined in an appropriate layout.

[0305] In accordance with the above-referenced present embodiment, withthe circuit boards, the optical device, and the battery skillfullyarranged, the projection area of the camera is minimized when viewedfrom the projection optical axis, and the ease of use of the camera isassured. Further, the ease of assembly is promoted, resulting in alow-cost and compact camera.

[0306] (Fourth Embodiment)

[0307] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will now bediscussed with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG.14, FIG. 15, FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B illustrate the fourth embodiment ofthe camera of the present invention.

[0308]FIG. 18A is a top view illustrating a chassis, on whichcomponents, such as an optical device, a main board, and a power boardare mounted, and FIG. 18B is a side view of the chassis of FIG. 18A,viewed from an image pickup board.

[0309]FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 have already beendiscussed in connection with the second and third embodiments, and thediscussion thereof is omitted here.

[0310] The camera 51 of this embodiment is equipped with a stroboscopiclight emission function, and needs a capacitor 69 that stores a greatdeal of charge to emit a stroboscopic light. The manner of how thecapacitor 69 is mounted is important to promote thin design. Thearrangement of the power board 68 as a second circuit board on which thecapacitor 69 is mounted is also important.

[0311] In accordance with the present embodiment, the capacitor 69 isheld in the lying position thereof in a holding wall 55 a and a holdingseat 55 b, which are integrally formed with the chassis 55. With thecapacitor 69 held, the spacing between the holding wall 55 a and theholding seat 55 b is almost equal to the depth size of the batteryholder 65. This arrangement substantially contributes to the thin designof the camera 51.

[0312] The capacitor 69 is mounted on the upper side of the power board68 as the second circuit board. The power board 68 and the capacitor 69are electrically connected to each other.

[0313] The power board 68 includes a charging circuit for storing chargein the capacitor 69, a trigger circuit for triggering a stroboscopiclight emission unit 59, and a power supply circuit for controlling thepower supply battery.

[0314] In accordance with the present embodiment, the power board 68 hasan area smaller than the area of the main board 70 to thin the camera51. The power board 68 is received in a cutout portion 55A in the centerof the chassis 55, and stacks on the main board 70 therewith.

[0315] The power board 68 is mounted on the chassis 55 with slightdegrees of looseness in both horizontal and vertical directions so thatconnectors 76 (see FIG. 18A) electrically connects the power board 68 tothe main board 70 in a smooth manner.

[0316] The camera 51 is substantially thinned by arranging the powerboard 68 having the capacitor 69 mounted thereon in this configuration.

[0317] The layout characteristic of this embodiment of the presentinvention will be discussed in detail referring to FIG. 14, FIG. 15,FIG. 18A, and FIG. 18B.

[0318]FIG. 14 is a plan view of the chassis 55 with the lens unit 67shown in FIG. 10 mounted thereon. As shown, in the camera 51 of thisembodiment, the lens unit 67 having the bending type optical system isarranged close to the right-hand end of a chassis 65, and the imagepickup board 66 fed with the output signal from the CCD is arranged onthe sidewall of the lens unit 67. In this case, the image pickup board66 is substantially parallel with the image pickup surface (not shown)of the CCD arranged on the image pickup surface of the lens unit 67.

[0319] As already discussed, the battery holder 65 is arranged near theother end of the chassis 55, opposite from the lens unit 67. In thiscase, the battery holder 65 is arranged in alignment with the directionof depth of the flat casing 52 in the vicinity of the first grip portion51A.

[0320] In this embodiment, the image pickup board 66 is arranged on thesidewall of the lens unit 67, and the lens unit 67 and the batteryholder 65 are arranged not to overlap each other in the projection planeof the casing 52 when viewed from the front of the camera 51.

[0321] The scale of a circuit for processing and control circuit forperforming a series of processes on video signals, recording the videosignal on the recording medium, and controlling actuators and sensorsbecomes typically large in a digital camera. For this reason, thecircuit is split among a plurality of circuit boards, which are thenmutually connected through a number of connectors. Circuits other thanthose for the control function, for example, a circuit of allowing alarge current for stroboscopic control and battery control to flowtherethrough is also split among a plurality of boards and mixed with acircuit for control functions there.

[0322] Processing and control circuits handling no large current, whichare typically closely related to each other, are preferably integratedin a single circuit board from the standpoint of circuit arrangement andcircuit board construction. Concurrently, circuits handling largecurrent for stroboscopic control and battery control are preferably in asingle circuit board from the standpoint of circuit arrangement andcircuit construction. Such an arrangement greatly contributes to theminiaturization of the camera, but no such effort has been made.

[0323] In this embodiment of the present invention, the processing andcontrol functions are concentrated on a single main board 70, while themain board 70 is shaped into an optimum configuration that serves thedual purposes of maximizing the area of the main board 70 within thecamera and thinning the camera. The power board 68 handling a highcurrent for stroboscopic control and battery control requires spacesmaller than the main board 70. The power board 68, which is shaped intoa configuration appropriate to thin the camera 51, is arranged at alocation not to overlap the battery holder 65 in the direction of depthof the battery holder 65. To help thin the camera, the power board 68 isinterposed between the battery holder 65 and the lens unit in thechassis 55.

[0324] Specifically, referring to FIG. 15, the main board 70 has acutout portion 70A and first and second opposed lip portions 70 a and 70b. The main board 70 generally coextends with the front of the chassis55 in a manner such that no portion thereof overlaps the lens unit 67when viewed in the direction of depth of the casing 52.

[0325] The lens unit 67 is received into the cutout portion 70A betweenthe first and second lip portions 70 a and 70 b, in other words,interposed between the first and second lip portions 70 a and 70 b sothat no portion of the main board 70 overlaps the lens unit 67. Thisarrangement allows the main board 70 to be maximized in area within thecamera. The resulting main board 70 helps miniaturize and thin thecamera 51.

[0326] In this embodiment, the image pickup board 66 having the CCD asdescribed above is attached on the sidewall of the lens unit 67. Signalprocessing circuits for preprocessing signals prior to outputting to themain board 70 are arranged on the image pickup board 66. Thisarrangement reduces the circuit scale of the main board 70 to somedegree, thereby reducing the size of the main board 70.

[0327] The processing circuits required to convert the subject imagefrom the CCD into a video signal are mounted on the image pickup board66 and these processing circuits perform pre-processing steps as much aspossible to lighten signal processing function to be performed on themain board 70. As a result, the main board 70 is reduced in size, andremains to be a single board, eliminating the need for splitting themain board 70.

[0328] Arranged on the end of the first lip portion 70 a of the mainboard 70 is a connector 73 which is electrically connected to the imagepickup board 66 as shown in FIG. 15. The connector 73 electricallyconnects the image pickup board 66 to the main board 70 via sheet-likeinterconnect lines 66 a extending from the top edge of the image pickupboard 66. The connector 73 is thus arranged in accordance with thelayout of the image pickup board 66 and the main board 70, therebyshortening the electrical path between the image pickup board 66 and themain board 70. The resulting electrical connection serves the purpose ofthinning the casing, and dispenses with redundant wiring.

[0329] Arranged side by side on the end of the second lip portion 70 bof the main board 70 are a connector 74 and a connector 75. Theconnector 74 is electrically connected to the switch board 62A (see FIG.10) arranged on the back of the back cover 54. The connector 75 iselectrically connected to the display 63 to exchange video data such asthe video signal with the display 63, thereby shortening the electricalpaths to the display 63 and the switch board 62A. The resultingelectrical connection serves the purpose of thinning the casing, anddispenses with redundant wiring.

[0330] The main board 70 in this embodiment stacks the battery holder 65on the opposite end of the first and second lips 70 a and 70 b as shownin FIG. 18A, when viewed in the direction of depth of the casing. Amedia slot 71 is arranged on the main board 70 behind the battery holder65. A connector 76 is mounted in the center of the main board 70 on itsback surface, and the main board 70 is electrically connected throughthe connector 76 to the power board 68 which is mounted at a locationappropriate for thinning the structure of the camera.

[0331] In this embodiment, as discussed above, the above-mentioned powerboard 68 is smaller in area than the main board 70 as shown in FIG. 15,and the battery holder 65 and the lens unit 67 do not overlap each otherwhen viewed in the direction of depth of the casing 52. The power board68, interposed between the battery holder 65 and the lens unit 67 in thechassis 55, is appropriate for miniaturizing and thinning the camera 51.

[0332] In the camera 51 of this embodiment, the lens unit 67 and avariety of other components are mounted on the chassis 55. As shown inFIG. 18A, the battery holder 65 and the media slot 71 are arranged closeto the first grip portion 51A on the chassis 55 accommodated in thecasing 52. The lens unit 67 is arranged on the chassis 55 close to thesecond grip portion 51B, opposite from the first grip portion 51A, andthe image pickup board 66 is attached on the sidewall of the lens unit67.

[0333] The main board 70 is stacked on the battery holder 65 of thechassis 55 when viewed from the direction of depth of the casing 52. Thelens unit 67, received in the cutout portion 70A, is not stacked on themain board 70 when viewed in the direction of depth of the lens unit 67.The main board 70 substantially coextends with the projection plane ofthe casing 52 when viewed from the subject end. The two opposed edges ofthe image pickup board 66 are respectively arranged close to the frontside and the back side of the casing 52. When mounted, the switch board62A, although not shown, is arranged to be at least partly stacked onthe lens unit 67 when viewed from the direction of depth of the casing52.

[0334] The power board 68 is not stacked on the battery holder 65 andthe lens unit 67 when viewed from the direction of depth of the casing52. The two opposed edges of the power board 68 are arranged to berespectively close to two sides of the casing 52 after a completion ofthe assembly of the camera.

[0335] In this arrangement, the chassis 55 with the components mountedthereon as shown in FIG. 18B is thin, thereby leading to a thin andcompact camera 51.

[0336] The power supply battery typically becomes large in size for itspower requirement in digital cameras. The arrangement of thesecomponents and the mounting of boards in a high density within a cameraare issues to be addressed. In accordance with this embodiment, with theabove arrangement, however, the camera is successfully thinned andminiaturized.

[0337] With the lens unit 67 having the bending type optical system, theimage pickup board 66 becomes perpendicular to the main board 70.Therefore, the image pickup board 66 coextending with thecross-sectional area of the camera 51 is used. The large-scale mainboard 70 is accordingly reduced in size. Connectors in use are simplymated with the mutually perpendicular faces thereof connected to eachother. The connectors are simplified in structure and miniaturized insize, leading to a further compact camera 51. Since the media slot 71 isarranged on the main board 70 at a predetermined location withconnection terminals directly mounted on the main board 70, noadditional wiring is required. The camera is thus further miniaturized.

[0338] In its manufacturing process, the camera 51 is assembled byclamping the chassis 55 having the major components already mountedthereon, between the front cover 53 and the back cover 54. Thisarrangement simplifies the assembly steps, thereby improving assemblyyields. With the simplified assembly steps, manufacturing costs aresubstantially reduced, leading to a low-cost camera 51.

[0339] The present invention is not limited to the above-embodiment, anda modification thereof falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0340] In this embodiment, the image pickup board 66 is attached on thesidewall of the lens unit 67. The present invention is not limited tothis arrangement. Depending on the mounting position of the lens unit67, the image pickup board 66 may be mounted on the top surface or thebottom surface of the lens unit 67. The main board 70 may be shaped intoan optimum configuration, according to the mounting position of theimage pickup board 66. The electrical connection therebetween is thusestablished through connectors.

[0341] In accordance with the present embodiment, the camera employs thelens unit 67 including the bending type optical system. In the camera,if thinner and more compact designs are incorporated in a variety ofcomponents such as the power supply battery and the display LCD, thesecomponents may be combined in an appropriate layout.

[0342] In accordance with the above-referenced present embodiment, withthe circuit boards skillfully arranged, the projection area of thecamera is minimized when viewed from the projection optical axis, andthe ease of use of the camera is assured. Further, the ease of assemblyis promoted, resulting in a low-cost and compact camera.

[0343] (Fifth Embodiment)

[0344] A fifth embodiment of the present invention will now be discussedreferring to the drawings.

[0345]FIG. 19 through FIG. 24 illustrate the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating theexternal structure of the camera viewed from the front thereof, FIG. 20is a perspective view illustrating the external structure of the camera,viewed from behind the camera, FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective viewroughly illustrating the internal structure of the camera illustrated inFIG. 19 to explain an assembly method of the camera, FIG. 22 is aperspective view of the structure of an image pickup board shown in FIG.21, FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of abattery holder mounted in a front cover close to a grip illustrated inFIG. 21, and FIG. 24 is a plan view illustrating the front cover, onwhich a variety of components such as an electrical-double-layercapacitor are mounted, to explain a layout characteristic of the fifthembodiment of the present invention.

[0346] Referring to FIG. 19, the camera of this embodiment, namely, anelectronic camera 81 includes a casing 82 which is flat and elongated.The casing 82 is formed of a front side cover (a front cover) 83 and aback side cover (a back cover) 84 as outer housing members forsandwiching optical members required to take picture and a variety ofcircuit boards on which electronic circuit components are mounted, aswill be discussed later.

[0347] With the front cover 83 and the back cover 84 secured to eachother, the casing 82 forms a first grip portion 81A near a releasebutton 86 appearing on the left end thereof, and a second grip portion81B arranged on the other end thereof (on the right end thereof whenviewed from the front of the camera, and see FIG. 20).

[0348] The first grip portion 81A is mainly formed of the back cover 84in such that the corresponding portion of the back cover 84 becomes thethickest in the thickness of the flat configuration when viewed in thelength direction of the casing 82. The thickest portion of the backcover 84 forms the first grip portion 81A, which can be firmly grippedby a user. This arrangement prevents the camera 81 from being trembledduring photographing, and is appropriate for a one-handed picture takingmanipulation. The user typically holds the camera 51 with the first andsecond grip portions 81A and 81B respectively gripped by both hands.

[0349] The release button 86 is arranged on the top surface of the firstgrip portion 81A of the casing 82. The release button 86 is switchingmeans, and upon being pressed, the release button 86 executes thepicture taking operation. The release button 86 is mounted on the frontcover 83, and is exposed through cutout portions respectively formed inthe front cover 83 and the back cover 84, which are secured to eachother.

[0350] A barrier main switch 83A is arranged on the front cover 83 ofthe front of the casing 82, and remains laterally movable with respectto the front cover 83. When the barrier main switch 83A is moved in aleftward direction when viewed from the front of the camera as shown inFIG. 19 during a photographing operation of the electronic camera 81,the barrier main switch 83A, interlocked with a power switch (not shown)arranged on the back surface of the front cover 83, turns on the powerof the camera 81.

[0351] While the camera 81 is not used during the carrying or storagethereof, the barrier main switch 83A, interlocked with the power switch,is slid in a rightward direction when viewed from the front of thecamera 81 as shown in FIG. 19, thereby turning off the power of thecamera 81. In its position, the barrier main switch 83A covers andprotects components such as an image pickup optical system 88 includinga finder window 87A and a photographing lens, and a self-timer LED 90arranged on one side of the front of the camera 81.

[0352] In the camera 81 of this embodiment, the above-mentioned finderwindow 87A and the image (image formation) optical system 88 includingthe photographing lens, and components such as a stroboscopic lightemission unit 89, and the self-timer LED 90 to be used in photographingare arranged on the front cover 83 on the right-hand side of the casing82 when viewed from the front of the camera 81.

[0353] The stroboscopic light emission unit 89 arranged on the frontcover 83 of the casing 82 is a popup type flash emission unit which isretracted within the casing 82 when not flashing and pops up whenflashing. The stroboscopic light emission unit 89 is projected to thephotographing position thereof by a drive link mechanism in interlockwith the projection motion of a lens barrel (not shown) to thephotographing position thereof in response to the switching on of thepower supply of the camera. In response to the switching off of thepower supply of the camera, the stroboscopic light emission unit 89 isretracted into a retraction position thereof in interlock with theretraction operation of the lens barrel (not shown).

[0354] Arranged on the other end of the front cover 83, namely, theleft-hand side of the front of the casing 82, when viewed from the frontof the camera 81, is a media slot cover 83B which is opened and closedto the outside to load and unload a memory card as a recording mediumfor recording a captured video signal.

[0355] Two shaft locks 83 b and 83 b are formed on the proximal end ofthe media slot cover 83B. The media slot cover 83B is closed or openedwith a shaft 83 d, supported by two shaft sockets 83 c and 83 c formedon the front cover 83, and engaged with the shaft locks 83 b and 83 b.As shown, the media slot cover 83B is held in a closed state withunshown lock means.

[0356] For example, the media slot cover 83B is opened and closed when amemory card as a recording medium, such as a smart medium, is loadedinto or unloaded from a media slot (a media socket) 96 (see FIG. 21)arranged at a corresponding location in the casing 82.

[0357] Arranged on the back cover 84 forming the casing 82 are a finder87B, an operation switch group 92, and a display 93 as shown in FIG. 20.

[0358] The finder 87B is mounted on near the top edge of the back cover84 close to the second grip portion 81B. The user looks into the finder87B to observe a subject.

[0359] The operation switch group 92 is arranged on the back cover 84near the first grip portion 81A of the casing 82. The operation switchgroup 92 includes a plurality switches 92 a to 92 c to perform a varietyof modes of the camera 81. Each of the plurality of switches 92 a to 92c may be fabricated of a push-type switch. The switch 92 a is a menuselection switch for selecting a menu of a photograph mode of the camera81. The switch 92 b is an LCD drive switch for turning on and off thedisplay 93. An operation switch 92 c, including at least four switchingelements, performs detailed settings for the determined photograph modeand other settings. For example, upper and lower switching elements mayperform electronic zoom-in and zoom-out operations, and right and leftswitching elements may select a stroboscopic light emission mode and mayoperate a macro photograph mode (a close-up photograph mode).

[0360] The display 93 is arranged near the operation switch group 92, onthe back cover 84 near the second grip 81B of the casing 82. Forexample, the display 93 may be manufactured of a transmissive type TFTLCD, and its screen is exposed through a cutout portion 84B in the backcover 84. The display 93 displays a variety of pieces of information andother picture taking information and an image based on a captured videosignal or a recorded video signal.

[0361] An opening 84C is formed in the bottom of the back cover 84 closeto the second grip portion 81B. Connection terminals 91 are arranged inthe opening 84C. The connection terminals 91 include a DC power supplyterminal 91 a to receive DC power as will be discussed later, videooutput terminal 91 b to output a captured video signal to an externaldevice, and a USB terminal 91 c (see FIG. 21). A connection terminalcover 84A is detachably fitted in the opening 84C to cover theconnection terminal 91.

[0362] The internal structure of the camera 81 of this embodiment willbe detailed with reference to FIG. 21.

[0363] To achieve the above objectives, the camera 81 of this embodimentincludes a high-capacitance and flat-shaped electrical-double-layercapacitor that compensates for a sharp voltage drop during a peak powerconsumption. The electrical-double-layer capacitor is disposed at themost optimal place to realize the miniaturization of and weight balanceof the camera to assure the ease of use of the camera.

[0364] The camera 81 of this embodiment has a structure that is easy tominiaturize and thin, requires no chassis space, and has a plurality ofcircuit boards stacked each other. To electrically connect the circuitboards, a board-to-board connector having a number of connectionterminals mounted on the surface of each circuit board is used.

[0365] Specifically, referring to FIG. 21, the camera 81 of thisembodiment includes, as the major components thereof: the image pickupoptical system 88 (not shown), the front cover 83 on which a pluralityof circuit boards and a variety of mechanical components are mounted; amain board 100 as a first circuit board on which a variety of circuitssuch as a control circuit for performing almost all functions of thecamera 81, and a variety of processing circuits for processing videosignals are mounted; a power board 102 as a second circuit board onwhich a variety of circuits for performing power control andstroboscopic control for the camera 81, and electronic components aremounted; an image pickup board 105 which is stacked on the power board102 stacked on the main board 100 and electrically connected andmechanically fixed to the image pickup optical system; and the backcover 84 which is mated with the front cover 83 to sandwich the mainboard 100, the power board 102, and the image pickup board 105therebetween.

[0366] A mounting hole 83C is formed in the front cover 83 close to thesecond grip portion 81B to receive the image pickup optical system 88.The image pickup optical system 88 received in the mounting hole 83Cincludes, as major components thereof, a plurality of lens unitsincluding a photographing lens within a lens barrel, although not shown,an AF drive mechanism driving system such as a drive motor forperforming AF, and a CCD. The CCD, although not shown, is mountedbeforehand on the proximal end of the mounting side of the image pickupoptical system 88, and a plurality of terminals for electricallyconnecting to the image pickup board 105 is projected from the CCD.

[0367] A stroboscopic unit 89A having a stroboscopic light emission unit89 is mounted on the front cover 83 above the mounting hole 83C.

[0368] A high-capacitance capacitor 94 that compensates for a sharpvoltage drop in the voltage value during the peak power consumption isarranged within the front cover 83 close to the first grip portion 81A.The capacitor 94 is an electrical-double-layer capacitor and isconfigured in a flat and thin structure appropriate for promotingminiaturization and weight balance of the camera 81. In its electricalconnection, the electrical-double-layer capacitor 94 is connected inparallel with battery contacts 95 a of the battery holder 95 sandwichingthe main board 100 between itself and the electrical-double-layercapacitor 94. Specifically, a connector 94 b (see FIG. 24) of lead wires94 a extending from the electrical-double-layer capacitor 94 isconnected to a corresponding connector arranged behind a power supplyboard section 102A of the power board 100. The mounting of theelectrical-double-layer capacitor 94 will be discussed in detail later.

[0369] Alignment projections a1, and a3, and mounting projections a2,and a4 for mounting and aligning the main board 100 and a power board102 to be stacked, and a mounting projection a5 for mounting the batteryholder 95 are arranged on the front cover 83 in the vicinity of theelectrical-double-layer capacitor 94. Also arranged on the front cover83 in the vicinity of the mounting hole 83C are mounting projections a7and a8 for mounting a terminal board 105B included in the image pickupboard 105 to be stacked.

[0370] The main board 100 generally coextends with the inner area of thefront cover 83 except the mounting hole 83C to promote thin design.Specifically, the main board 100 is shaped into a configuration andplaced at a position, most appropriate for promoting the compact andthin design in the camera 81.

[0371] The main board 100 has alignment holes b1 and b3 to be alignedwith the alignment projections a1 and a3 of the front cover 83, andmounting holes b4, b5, and b6 through which screws are driven into themounting projections a2 and a4 in the front cover 83. When fixed, themain board 100 is stacked on the capacitor 94 and is then fixed to thefront cover 83.

[0372] A board-to-board type connector 101 having a number of connectionterminals is mounted on the surface of the main board 100. Referring toFIG. 23, a battery holder 95 includes a holding wall 95A for holding apower supply battery, a holder compartment 95B for holding the powersupply battery, two battery contacts 95 a attached on the top portion ofthe holder 95, a connector 100 a for feeding the power of the loadedpower supply battery to the power board 102, lead wires 95 b for feedingthe power of the loaded power supply battery to the power board 102, anda connection block 95 c which is fixed to the power board 102 withscrews when the battery holder 95 is assembled into the front cover 83.The battery holder 95 is fixed to the front cover 83 in such a mannerthat the battery holder 95 is stacked on the surface of the main board100.

[0373] A media slot (a media socket) 96, arranged on the back side ofthe main board 100, allows a memory card such as a smart medium as arecording medium to be loaded and unloaded thereinto or therefrom.

[0374] A connector 101 of the main board 100 is mated to a connector 103b mounted on the back of a power supply board section 102A of a powerboard 102. In other words, the power board 102 is stacked and mounted onthe main board 100.

[0375] As shown, the power board 102 includes a power supply boardsection 102A on which circuits for performing power supply control aremounted, a stroboscopic board section 102B on which circuits for mainlyperforming stroboscopic control and a main capacitor 104 required toemit a stroboscopic light are mounted, and a flexible board section 102Cfor electrically connecting the power supply board section 102A to thestroboscopic board section 102B.

[0376] Arranged on the back side of the power supply board section 102Ais a connector 103 b, which is similar to the connector 101 of theabove-mentioned main board 100 and is connected to the connector 101.Another connector 103 a is arranged on the front side of the powersupply board section 102A at a location corresponding to the mountingposition of the connector 103 b. The power supply board section 102Ahas, at predetermined locations thereof, a mounting hole d6 throughwhich a screw is driven into the mounting projection a6 of the frontcover 83 for fixing the power supply board section 102A to the frontcover 83, and a mounting hole d7 though which a screw is driven into themounting projection 95 c of the installed battery holder 95.

[0377] The stroboscopic board section 102B, which is electricallyconnected to the power supply board section 102A through the flexibleboard section 102C, is movable so that the plane of the stroboscopicboard section 102B becomes perpendicular to the power supply boardsection 102A by means of the flexible board section 102C. In otherwords, the stroboscopic board section 102B is sized to meet thethickness of the camera 81. And when mounted to the front cover 83, thestroboscopic board section 102B is fitted on the bottom surface of thefront cover 83.

[0378] The camera 81 of this embodiment has a stroboscopic lightemission function, and needs a capacitor 104 that stores a great deal ofcharge to emit a stroboscopic light. The manner of how the capacitor 104is mounted is important to promote thin design.

[0379] In accordance with this embodiment, the main capacitor 104 in itsattached state to the stroboscopic board section 102B is housed on thebottom portion of the front cover 83 below a stroboscopic unit 89B atthe same time when the stroboscopic board section 102B is fitted on thebottom surface of the front cover 83. In this way, the main capacitor104 is thus accommodated within the thickness of the front cover 83,thereby substantially contributing to the thinning of the camera 81.

[0380] The stroboscopic board section 102B has circuits, although notshown, such as a charging circuit for storing charge in the maincapacitor 104 and a trigger circuit for triggering the emission ofstroboscopic light from the stroboscopic light emission unit 89.

[0381] In the camera 81 of this embodiment, the image pickup board 105is further stacked on the power board 102.

[0382] Referring to FIG. 22, the image pickup board 105 includes animage pickup board section 105A having on the back surface thereof aconnector 106 which is connected to the connector 103 a mounted on thepower supply board section 102A of the power board 102, a terminal boardsection 105B having the connection terminals 91 mounted thereon, and aflexible board section 105C which electrically connects the image pickupboard section 105A to the terminal board section 105B while allowing theterminal board section 105B to move to be perpendicular to the circuitplane of the image pickup board section 105A.

[0383] The image pickup board section 105A has a variety of circuits forimage-pickup processing, and has the connector 106 on the back surfacethereof (the top surface in FIG. 22). The image pickup board section105A has, on predetermined locations, a plurality of connection holes105 a for allowing a plurality of the terminals (not shown) of the CCD,mounted on the end face of the image pickup optical system 88, to beinserted and then soldered, and three mounting holes c1, c2, and c3through which the image pickup board section 105A is fixed to the endface of the image pickup optical system 88 using screws.

[0384] Each of the plurality of connection holes 105 a is sized to belarger than each of the terminals of the CCD by a predetermineddimension. By setting the connection hole 105 a to be larger than theterminals of the CCD, looseness is allowed therebetween when the imagepickup board 105 is mounted in the image pickup optical system 88 whichis already fixed to the front cover 83. In this arrangement, themounting position of the image pickup board 105 is finely adjusted. Theimage pickup board section 105A is tentatively fixed with screws drivento the mounting holes c1, c2, and c3, and with the image pickup boardsection 105A held, the CCD terminals are soldered. The image pickupboard 105 is thus permanently fixed to the proximal end face of theimage pickup optical system 88.

[0385] Referring to FIG. 22, a terminal board section 105B, which isconnected to the image pickup board section 105A via a flexible boardsection 105C, includes DC power supply terminals 91 a, video outputterminals 91 b, and USB terminals 91 c, forming the connection terminals91 on the back surface of the terminal board section 105B. The terminalboard section 105B has, on the top and bottom proximal end portionsthereof, mounting holes c7 and c8 through which screws are driven intoto connect to the mounting projections a7 and a8 of the front cover 83.

[0386] When the image pickup board 105 thus constructed is installed,the terminal board section 105B is flexibly adjusted in the positionthereof in the direction represented by an arrow as shown (and a littlein horizontal and vertical directions mainly with respect to the circuitboard plane of the image pickup board section 105A) even when it issoldered to the CCD of the image pickup optical system 88. Even if thereare variations in the stack structure of the main board 100 and thepower board 102, the position of the terminals of the terminal boardsection 105B is easily adjusted to the position of the opening 84C ofthe back cover 84 which is closed last.

[0387] The back cover 84 is then mated with the front cover 83 with thecircuit boards 100, 102, and 105 stacked within the front cover 83.

[0388] The assembly method of the camera of this embodiment is discussedbelow with reference to FIG. 21 and FIG. 22. The assembly method isdiscussed on the assumption that the electrical-double-layer capacitoris mounted beforehand at the predetermined location thereof in the frontcover 83.

[0389] The image pickup optical system 88 with the CCD beforehandmounted to the proximal end face thereof, although not shown, isinserted into and fixed the mounting hole 83 c of the front cover 83.

[0390] The main board 100 is then mounted on the front cover 83. In thiscase, the main board 100 is secured in alignment with the alignmentprojections a1 and a3 of the front cover 83 respectively received intothe alignment holes b1 and b3 of the main board 100.

[0391] With screws driven through the mounting holes b4, b5, and b6 ofthe main board 100 into the mounting projections a2, a4, and a5 of thefront cover 83, the main board 100 is stacked on the capacitor 94 on thefront cover 83.

[0392] Then, the power board 102 is mounted.

[0393] The connector 103 b mounted on the back surface of the powersupply board section 102A of the power board 102 is connected to theconnector 101 of the main board 100, while the stroboscopic boardsection 102B is fitted on the bottom surface of the front cover 83 in amanner such that the stroboscopic board 102B is bent to make a rightangle with the power supply board 102A by means of the flexible board102C.

[0394] The front cover 83 has a holder (not shown) for receiving themain capacitor 104 mounted on the stroboscopic board section 102B, andthe holder secures the main capacitor 104 in alignment. Although it isnot shown, an absorber member, such as rubber, is glued onto thesidewall of the main capacitor 104. The absorber member allows the maincapacitor 104 to be tighten in contact with the sidewall of the frontcover 83, and keeps the main capacitor 104 firmly held even when thecamera 81 is shaken.

[0395] The image pickup board 105 is then mounted.

[0396] The CCD terminals of the image pickup optical system 88 fixed onthe front cover 83 are inserted through the connection holes 105 aformed in the image pickup board section 105A while the image pickupboard 105 is moved onto the power supply board section 102A of the powerboard 102. At the same time, the connector 106 mounted on the backsurface of the image pickup board section 105A is mated with theconnector 103 a mounted on the power supply board section 102A.

[0397] The image pickup board section 105A is fixed with screws driveninto screw holes (not shown) formed on the proximal end face of theimage pickup optical system 88 through the mounting holes c1, c2, and c3in the image pickup board section 105A.

[0398] Since the CCD terminals are received into the plurality ofconnection holes 105 a of the image pickup board section 105A with somedegree of looseness allowed therebetween, positional variations of theimage pickup board section 105A with respect to the image pickup opticalsystem 88 are accommodated. In this state, each terminal projectedthrough the connection hole 105 a is soldered to trace connectionpatterns surrounding the connection hole 105 a. In this way, the imagepickup board 105 is fixed to the image pickup optical system 88 withoutperforming positional adjustment.

[0399] The terminal board section 105B electrically connected to theimage pickup board section 105A through the flexible board section 105Cis fixed to the front cover 83.

[0400] The terminal board section 105B is fixed to the front cover 83with screws respectively driven through the mounting holes c7 and c8 onthe top and bottom proximal end of the terminal board section 105B intothe mounting projections a7 and a8 of the front cover 83. Since theterminal board section 105B is flexibly adjusted in position by means ofthe flexible board section 105C as represented by the arrow in FIG. 22(typically to be in perpendicular to the circuit board plane of theimage pickup board section 105A). Even if there are variations in thestack structure of the main board 100 and the power board 102, theposition of the connection terminals 91 of the terminal board section105B is easily adjusted to the position of the opening 84C of the backcover 84 which is to be closed.

[0401] The back cover 84 is then mated with the front cover 83 with thecircuit boards 100, 102, and 105 stacked inside the front cover 83. Theassembly of the camera 81 is thus completed.

[0402] In the assembly method of the electronic camera, the power board102 is stacked and mounted subsequent to the mounting of the main board100 in the front cover 83. The present invention is not limited to thismethod. Alternatively, the main board 100 is mounted subsequent to themounting of the power board 102 in the front cover 83. Since the powersupply board 102A of the power board 100 is flexibly bent at theflexible board 102C in this embodiment, the main board 100 is mountedlater, with the power supply board section 102A bent when the main board100 is mounted.

[0403] The camera 81 assembled in this way has a layout characteristicof this embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 24. Asshown, the electrical-double-layer capacitor 94 is arranged close to thefirst grip portion 81A of the casing 82 in the front cover 83, and atleast partly is stacked on all of the main board 100, the media slot 96,and the battery holder 95 arranged on the front cover 83 close to thefirst grip portion 81A of the casing 82.

[0404] The projection area of the electrical-double-layer capacitor 94when viewed from the front of the casing 82 is smaller than that of themedia slot 96. Alternatively, the projection area of theelectrical-double-layer capacitor 94 may be set to be equal to that ofthe media slot 96.

[0405] The image pickup optical system 88 mounted in the mounting hole83C of the front cover 83 has no portion thereof of being stacked on anyof the battery holder 95, the main board 100, the power board 102, theimage pickup board 105, the media slot 96, and theelectrical-double-layer capacitor 94 when viewed in the direction ofdepth of the casing 82, although this is not shown.

[0406] In accordance with this embodiment, the flat and high-capacitanceelectrical-double-layer capacitor is arranged in the layout appropriatefor miniaturizing the camera. Without shortening the service life of abattery, the capacitor compensates for a sharp voltage drop in voltagevalue in a camera operation sequence during peak power consumption. Thecamera is normally operated, and is prevented from deterioration of theservice life of the battery associated with the sharp voltage drop. Theoperation of the camera is thus stabilized.

[0407] The flat and thin electrical-double-layer capacitor is used. Theelectrical-double-layer capacitor is stacked in the vicinity of thebattery holder in the direction of depth of the camera. This arrangementis preferable from the standpoint of electrical circuit and helpsminiaturize and thin the whole camera.

[0408] A media slot cover 83B may be arranged close to the first gripportion 81A of the camera, and the electrical-double-layer capacitor 94may be stacked on the media slot 96. The entire camera is miniaturizedby stacking two devices (the media slot 96 and theelectrical-double-layer capacitor 94), large in area but small inthickness, on the same position. In this case, the battery holder 95 isalso stacked. Since the battery holder 95 housing the power supplybattery, which is the heaviest unit, and the electrical-double-layercapacitor 94 are arranged close to the first grip portion 81A, theweight balance is excellent when the user holds the camera 81. Thisgreatly improves the ease of use of the camera. In the layout of thecamera, these components do not overlap the image pickup optical system88 in the projection area when viewed from the front of the camera. Athin structure is thus implemented in the camera.

[0409] In accordance with the present embodiment, the camera 81 of thisembodiment, having a stack structure formed of a plurality of circuitboards, is easy to miniaturize and thin, and includes a board-to-boardconnector having a number of connection terminals to connect circuitboards. The connector itself is miniaturized. The assembly process ofthe camera is thus simplified, and manufacturing costs are reduced. Thecamera is thus miniaturized at low costs.

[0410] The use of the power board 102 and the image pickup board 105accommodates positional variations, even if such variations arise in theassembly position of the camera due to the stack structure of theplurality of circuit boards. The alignment of the connection terminals91 with the opening of the back cover 84, which has been conventionallydifficult, is easily and reliably performed. Precise assembly is carriedout, thereby improving manufacturing yields of the camera.

[0411] The main board 100 is connected to the power board 102 throughthe connector 101 and the connector 103 b, and the power board 102 isconnected to the image pickup board 105 through the connector 103 a andthe connector 106. The signal pathway between the circuits issubstantially shortened, thereby eliminating complex wiring connections.The manufacturing yields are improved and the manufacturing costs arereduced.

[0412] Since the battery holder 15 housing the power supply battery,which is the heaviest unit, and the high-capacitance capacitor 14 arearranged inside the first grip portion 1A, the weight balance isexcellent when the camera 1 is held. The ease of use is greatlyimproved.

[0413] The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and amodification of this embodiment falls within the scope of the presentinvention.

[0414] In this embodiment, the three circuit boards, namely, the mainboard 100, the power board 102, and the image pickup board 105 arestacked using the connectors. The present invention is not limited tothis arrangement. For example, the main board 100 and the power board102 may be integrated into a single first circuit board 100, and theimage pickup board 105 is treated as a second circuit board, and thefirst and second circuit boards are stacked using connectors.

[0415] In this embodiment, the power board 102 is fixed to the frontcover 83 and the battery holder 95 using the screws. Alternatively,these components may be connected using connectors 103 a and 103 b only.

[0416] The electrical-double-layer capacitor 94 has the thin and flatconfiguration. The present invention is not limited to thisconfiguration. Any appropriate configuration may be used for a layout aslong as the layout is appropriate for miniaturizing and thinning thecamera 81.

[0417] Since the high-capacitance electrical-double-layer capacitor isarranged in a layout appropriate for miniaturizing the camera in thisembodiment as described above, the devices in the camera are stabilized,and the camera is miniaturized and thinned. The camera is also providedwith excellent weight balance.

[0418] In accordance with this embodiment, the camera having no chassisin the assembly thereof employs a board-to-board connector, whichfeatures improved reliability and compact design. The ease of assemblyof the camera is improved, and the miniaturization of the camera ispromoted at low costs.

[0419] (Sixth Embodiment)

[0420] A sixth embodiment of the present invention is discussed belowreferring to the drawings.

[0421]FIGS. 25A through 25C illustrate the sixth embodiment of thecamera of the present invention. FIGS. 25A through 25C schematicallyillustrate the construction of the electronic camera in accordance withthe sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25A illustrates thetop structure of the camera, FIG. 25B illustrates the positionalrelationship between a bending type optical system and a stroboscopiccapacitor in the camera, and FIG. 25C illustrates the structure of thecamera, viewed from the front thereof.

[0422]FIGS. 26A through 26C also illustrate the electronic camera inaccordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 26Aillustrates the structure of the electronic camera, viewed from thefront thereof, FIG. 26B illustrates the structure thereof, viewed fromthe right-hand side thereof with respect to the front of the camera, andFIG. 26C illustrates the structure of the electronic camera, viewed fromthe bottom of the camera.

[0423] Referring to FIG. 25A through FIG. 26C, there is shown a camerabody 110, in which a variety of components are assembled in apredetermined layout within two split outer housing covers as describedbelow. A main board 111 is arranged in the camera body 110 in a mannersuch that a main board 111 partitions the internal space of the camerabody 110 into front and back portions. A bottom board 112 is arranged tobe in parallel with and in the vicinity of the bottom inner surface ofthe camera body 110. An image pickup board 113 is arranged in parallelwith the one sidewall of the camera body 110.

[0424] An optical axis bending type photographing optical system 114 isarranged at a right-hand half of the main board 111 when viewed from thefront of the camera. Referring to FIG. 25B, the photographing opticalsystem 114 includes, in the vicinity of a light entrance area (behind aphotographing lens 114 a), a prism 114 b having a reflective surface Mat about 45° with respect to the optical axis OA of an incident lightbeam. The photographing axis bending type photographing optical system114 reflects the incident light beam from the reflective surface M, andthus bends the photographing optical axis so that an optical axis OB ofthe light beam reflected from the reflective surface M is aligned withthe direction of width of the camera body 110. In this way, the subjectimage light beam incident on the photographing lens 114 a positionedsubstantially at the center front of the camera body 110 is reflectedfrom the reflective surface M of the photographing optical system 114,and is guided to the CCD image pickup device 114 c on the image pickupboard 113 which is arranged on the right-hand end portion of the camerabody 110 when viewed from the front of the camera. An inclined surface Nwhich is substantially parallel with the reflective surface M is at theback surface of the prism 114 b.

[0425] A cylindrical stroboscopic capacitor 115 substantially coextendswith the vertical height of the camera body 110. The stroboscopiccapacitor 115 is mounted on the bottom board 112 with a part of thecircumference thereof in close vicinity with the back surface of theprism 114 b, namely, the inclined surface N, and with the lengthdirection thereof perpendicular to the bottom plane of the camera body110.

[0426] A battery pack 116 includes two AA batteries in a unitary body,and is inserted from the bottom surface of the camera body 110 asindicated by an arrow and installed in a region next to the stroboscopiccapacitor 115 (a left-hand side region when viewed from the front of thecamera).

[0427] A photographing image display LCD 117 is arranged at the rearsurface of the main board 111 on the right-hand side region (behind thephotographing optical system 114) when viewed from the front of thecamera and the display screen of the photographing image display LCD 117is exposed through the back surface of the camera body 110. A mediaconnector 118 is arranged at the rear surface of the main board 111 inparallel with the main board 111 on the left-hand side portion (behindthe stroboscopic capacitor 115 and the battery pack 116) when viewedfrom the front of the camera. A card-type recording medium, namely, asmart medium 118 a, is loaded into and unloaded from the left-handsidewall of the camera body 110 as shown by an arrow.

[0428] An operation button of an operation switch 119 is exposed throughthe back surface of the camera body 110 and is arranged behind the mediaconnector 118. A release button 120 is arranged above the battery pack116 with the top portion thereof exposed through the top surface of thecamera body 110.

[0429] An optical finder 121 is arranged above the optical axis bendingtype photographing optical system 114 and close to the stroboscopiccapacitor 115.

[0430] The optical finder 121 includes a finder front window 121 a onthe front of the camera body 110, and a finder eyepiece window 121 b onthe back of the camera body 110.

[0431] A stroboscopic light emission unit 122 is mounted near theoptical finder 121 with the light emission window thereof exposedthrough the front of the camera body 110.

[0432] A plurality of jacks 131, 132, and 133 (three jacks in thisembodiment) for electrical connection with external devices (not shown)are arranged below the optical axis bending type photographing opticalsystem 114.

[0433] The jack 131 is an external power supply jack, the jack 132 is avideo output jack, and the jack 133 is a serial bus jack (such as forUSB) for signal communication. The two jacks adjacent to each other,namely, the external power supply jack 131 and the video output jack132, have plug sockets thereof on the right-hand sidewall of the camerabody 110, and are arranged side by side below the bottom board 112mounted in parallel with the bottom plane of the camera body 110.

[0434] The two adjacent jacks 131 and 132 are tilted from each otherwith axes thereof making an predetermined angle a so that plugs 141 and142 make an angle when the plugs 141 and 142 are respectively insertedinto the jacks 131 and 132. In this case, the axis line AX1 of the onejack 131 makes the angle α with respect to the axis line AX2 of theother jack 132. Designated 143 is a plug mated with the jack 133, and145 is a mounting hole for a tripod.

[0435] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, as described above,the stroboscopic capacitor 115 having a relatively large volume, out ofthe components housed in the camera body 110, is arranged in dead spacebehind the prism 114 b. The utilization of mounting space inside thecamera body 110 is thus improved. With the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system 114 mounted, the already thin camera isfurther miniaturized.

[0436] The features of the sixth embodiment of the present invention arelisted as below.

[0437] [1] The electronic camera of this embodiment includes the camerabody 110, the optical axis bending type photographing optical system 114having, in the vicinity of the light entrance area of the camera body110, the reflective surface M inclined with respect to the optical axisOA of the incident light beam to align an optical axis OB of the lightbeam reflected from the reflective surface with the direction of widthof the camera body 110, and the stroboscopic capacitor 115 mounted witha portion of the circumference thereof in close vicinity with the backsurface of the reflective surface M of the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system 114, and with the length direction thereofperpendicular to the bottom plane of the camera body 110.

[0438] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, the stroboscopiccapacitor 115 having a relatively large volume, out of the componentshoused in the camera body 110, is arranged in dead space behind thereflective surface M. The utilization of mounting space inside thecamera body 110 is thus improved. Components surrounding thestroboscopic capacitor 115 close to the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system 114 are efficiently installed inside thecamera body 110. With the optical axis bending type photographingoptical system 114 mounted, the already thin camera is furtherminiaturized.

[0439] [2] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera specified in feature [1], the reflective surface M is areflective surface of the prism 114 b in the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system 114.

[0440] [3] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera specified in feature [1], the reflective surface M is areflective surface of a reflective mirror of the optical axis bendingtype photographing optical system 114.

[0441] [4] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera specified in feature [1], the reflective surface M ispositioned substantially at the center of the width of the camera body110.

[0442] [5] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera specified in feature [2], the stroboscopic capacitor 115substantially coextends with the vertical height of the camera body 110,and is mounted on the bottom board 112 which is arranged in closevicinity to and in parallel with the bottom plane of the camera.

[0443] Since the stroboscopic capacitor 115 relatively large in volumeand relatively heavy in weight is stably and reliably fixedsubstantially at the center inside the camera body 110 in the electroniccamera, the center of gravity of the camera lies close to the center ofthe camera, and the weight balance of the camera is thus excellent.

[0444] [6] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera specified in one of features [1] through [5], theoptical finder 121 is arranged above the photographing optical system114 and adjacent to the stroboscopic capacitor 115.

[0445] In the modification of the this embodiment, a reflective mirrormay be substituted for the prism 114 b having the reflective surface M.

[0446] The sixth embodiment of the present invention provides theelectronic camera having the following advantages.

[0447] (a) Since the stroboscopic capacitor having a relatively largevolume is arranged in dead space behind the reflective surface, mountingspace inside the camera body is effectively used in the camera havingoptical axis bending optical system.

[0448] (b) Components surrounding the stroboscopic capacitor close tothe optical axis bending type photographing optical system areefficiently installed within the camera body. With the optical axisbending type photographing optical system mounted, the already thincamera is further miniaturized.

[0449] (Seventh Embodiment)

[0450] A seventh embodiment of the present invention will now bediscussed referring to the drawings.

[0451]FIGS. 27A through 37C illustrate the camera of the seventhembodiment of the present invention.

[0452]FIGS. 27A through 28C roughly illustrate the construction of theelectronic camera in accordance with seventh embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 27A illustrates the top structure of the camera, FIG.27B illustrates the positional relationship between a bending opticalsystem and a stroboscopic capacitor in the camera, and FIG. 27Cillustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the front thereof.

[0453]FIGS. 28A through 28C also illustrate the electronic camera inaccordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention, FIG.28A illustrates the structure of the camera, viewed from the frontthereof, FIG. 28B illustrates the structure of the camera, viewed fromthe right-hand side thereof with respect to the front of the camera, andFIG. 28C illustrates the structure of the camera, viewed from the bottomof the camera.

[0454] Referring to FIGS. 27A through 28C, there is shown a camera body150, in which a variety of components is assembled in a predeterminedlayout within two split outer housing covers as described below. A mainboard 151 is arranged inside the camera body 150 in a manner such thatthe main board 151 partitions the internal space of the camera body 150into front and back portions. A sub-board 151A is arranged in parallelwith the main board 151. An image pickup board 153 is arranged inparallel with the right-hand side surface of the camera body 150.

[0455] An optical axis bending type photographing optical system 154 isarranged in the right half portion of the main board 151 when viewedfrom the front of the camera. Referring to FIG. 27B, the photographingoptical system 154 includes, in the vicinity of a light entrance areathereof (behind a photographing lens 154 a), a prism 154 b having areflective surface M at about 45° with respect to the optical axis OA ofan incident light beam. The photographing optical system 154 reflectsthe incident light beam off the reflective surface M, and thus bends thephotographing optical axis so that an optical axis OB of the light beamreflected from the reflective surface M is aligned with the direction ofwidth of the camera body 150 (in horizontal width in this embodiment).The direction of the optical axis OB subsequent to reflection is in thelength direction of the photographing optical system 154, and thephotographing optical system 154 is arranged in the camera body 150 sothat the length direction of the photographing optical system 154 isaligned to be parallel with the bottom plane of the camera.

[0456] In this way, the subject image light beam incident on thephotographing lens 154 a positioned substantially at the center of thewidth of the camera body 150 (the horizontal width in this embodiment)is reflected from the reflective surface M of the photographing opticalsystem 154, and is guided to the CCD image pickup device 154 c on theimage pickup board 153 which is arranged on the right-hand end of thecamera body 150 when viewed from the front of the camera.

[0457] An optical finder 161 is arranged above the optical axis bendingtype photographing optical system 154. As is known, the optical finder161 includes a bending optical system characteristic of the opticalfinder, and the longitudinal axis of the optical finder 161 issubstantially parallel with the length direction of the photographingoptical system 154. The light entrance area of the optical finder 161,namely, a finder front window 161 a, is arranged on the front of thecamera body 150 in a manner such that the finder front window 161 acomes just above the light entrance area of the photographing opticalsystem 154. A finder eyepiece window 161 of the optical finder 161 isarranged on the back surface of the camera body 150.

[0458] A stroboscopic light emission unit 162 is mounted adjacent to theoptical finder 161 and above an image pickup device 154 c arranged atthe distal end of the photographing optical system 154, with the lightemission window thereof exposed through the front of the camera body150.

[0459] A cylindrical stroboscopic capacitor 155 is mounted on thesub-board 151A, below the photographing optical system 154, with thelength direction thereof aligned in parallel with the length directionof the photographing optical system 154.

[0460] A battery pack 156 includes two AA batteries in a unitary body,and is inserted from the bottom surface of the camera body 150 asindicated by an arrow B and installed in a region next to thestroboscopic capacitor 155 (a left-hand side region when viewed from thefront of the camera).

[0461] A photographing image display LCD 157 is arranged on theright-hand side region of the main board 151 (behind the photographingoptical system 154) when viewed from the front of the camera and thedisplay screen of the photographing image display LCD 157 is exposedthrough the back surface of the camera body 150. A media connector 158is arranged at the rear surface of the main board 151 on the left-handside portion thereof (behind the battery pack 116) when viewed from thefront of the camera. A card-type recording medium, namely, a smartmedium 158 a, is loaded into and unloaded from the media connector 158through the left-hand sidewall of the camera body 150 as shown by anarrow S.

[0462] An operation switch 159 is arranged behind the media connector158 with the operation button thereof exposed through the back surfaceof the camera body 150. A release button 160 is arranged above thebattery pack 156 with the top portion thereof exposed through the topsurface of the camera body 150.

[0463] A plurality of jacks 171, 172, and 173 (three jacks in thisembodiment) for electrical connection with external devices (not shown)is arranged below the stroboscopic capacitor 155 on the right-hand sideof the camera body 150 when viewed from the front of the camera, withplug sockets thereof opened on the right-hand sidewall of the camerabody 150.

[0464] The jack 171 is an external power supply jack, the jack 172 is avideo output jack, and the jack 173 is a serial bus jack (such as forUSB). The external power supply jack 171 is mounted on one side of thesub-board 151A arranged perpendicular to the bottom surface of thecamera body 150. The video output jack 172 and the serial bus jack (USB)are arranged in parallel with the back surface of the main board 152.Designated 185 is a tripod hole.

[0465] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, as discussed above,a plurality of optical units each having an elongated shape, namely, theoptical finder 161, the photographing optical system 154, thestroboscopic capacitor 155, etc. are stacked in parallel with the bottomsurface of the camera 150 inside the camera 150, with the lengthdirections thereof aligned. This arrangement leaves less space unusedbetween the stacked optical units. At least the height dimension of thecamera body 150 is reduced. With the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system 154 mounted, the already thin camera isfurther miniaturized (with the height dimension reduced).

[0466] (First Modification)

[0467]FIGS. 29A through 30C roughly illustrate an electronic camera inaccordance with a first modification of the seventh embodiment. FIG. 29Aillustrates the top structure of the camera, FIG. 29B illustrates thefront structure of the camera, and FIG. 29C illustrates the structure ofthe camera, viewed from the left-hand side thereof with respect to thefront of the camera.

[0468]FIGS. 30A through 30C also schematically illustrate the electroniccamera of the first modification of the seventh embodiment. FIG. 30Aillustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the front thereof,FIG. 30B illustrates the structure of the camera, viewed from theright-hand side thereof with respect to the front of the camera, andFIG. 30C illustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the bottomside of the camera.

[0469] The main difference between the seventh embodiment (hereinafterreferred to as a basic embodiment) described with reference to FIGS. 27Athrough 28C and the first modification thereof lies in that the batteryholder is arranged with the length direction thereof aligned in parallelwith the bottom surface of the camera so that the battery pack 156 isinserted together with the smart medium 158 a to the camera body 150 onthe left-hand side of the camera in the directions represented by thearrows B and S. Designated 151B is a sub-board. In accordance with thismodification, the battery pack 156 is arranged with the length directionthereof aligned in parallel with the bottom surface of the camera, andthe camera height is further reduced compared with the basic embodiment.The construction of the camera of the modification other than this pointremains unchanged from that of the basic embodiment, and the discussionthereof is omitted here.

[0470] (Second Modification)

[0471]FIGS. 31A through 32C schematically illustrate an electroniccamera in accordance with a second modification of the basic embodiment.FIG. 31A illustrates the top structure of the camera, FIG. 31Billustrates the positional relationship between a bending optical systemand a stroboscopic capacitor in the camera, and FIG. 31C illustrates thestructure of the camera viewed from the front thereof.

[0472]FIGS. 32A through 32C also illustrate the electronic camera inaccordance with the second modification of the seventh embodiment, FIG.32A illustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the frontthereof, FIG. 32B illustrates the structure of the camera viewed fromthe right-hand side thereof with respect to the front of the camera, andFIG. 32C illustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the bottomside of the camera.

[0473] The main difference of the second modification from the basicembodiment is that a box-like battery 166 is used as a battery, and thatthe media connector 158 is arranged perpendicular to the bottom surfaceof the camera so that the box-like battery 166 and the smart medium 158a are loaded in and unloaded from the camera body 150 through the bottomsurface of the camera body 150 as represented by arrows B and S. Sinceboth the box-like battery 166 and the smart medium 158 a are arrangedperpendicular to the bottom surface of the camera in accordance withthis modification, the width dimension of the camera is reduced comparedwith the basic embodiment. The construction of the second modificationother than this point remains unchanged from that of the basisembodiment, and the discussion thereof is omitted here.

[0474] (Third Modification)

[0475]FIGS. 33A through 33C illustrate an electronic camera inaccordance with a third modification of the basic embodiment. FIG. 33Aillustrates the top structure of the camera, FIG. 33B illustrates thestructure of the camera viewed from the front thereof, and FIG. 33Cillustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the left-hand sidethereof with respect to the front of the camera.

[0476] The main difference of the third modification from the firstmodification is that the box-like battery 166 is used as a batteryinstead of the battery pack 156. In accordance with this modification,as in the first modification, the height dimension of the camera isreduced for the same reason in the first modification. Furthermore, thecomparison of FIGS. 29C and 33C clearly shows that the use of thebox-like battery 166 further reduces the thickness dimension of theleft-half of the camera body 150 housing the box-like battery 166, whenviewed from the front of the camera. The construction other than thispoint remains unchanged from that of the first modification, and thediscussion thereof is omitted here.

[0477] (Fourth Modification)

[0478]FIGS. 34A through 35C schematically illustrate an electroniccamera in accordance with a fourth modification of the basic embodiment.FIG. 34A illustrates the top structure of the camera, FIG. 34Billustrates the positional relationship between a bending optical systemand a stroboscopic capacitor in the camera, and FIG. 34C illustrates thestructure of the camera viewed from the front thereof.

[0479]FIGS. 35A through 35C also schematically illustrate the electroniccamera of the fourth modification of the basic embodiment. FIG. 35Aillustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the front thereof,FIG. 35B illustrates the structure of the camera viewed from theright-hand side thereof with respect to the front thereof, and FIG. 35Cillustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the bottom side ofthe camera.

[0480] The main difference of the fourth modification from the secondmodification is that a photographing lens 154 a as the light incidentarea of an optical axis bending type image pickup optical system 154 isarranged close to the right-hand end of the camera body 150 when viewedfrom the front thereof. In accordance with this modification, thesubject image light beam, incident on and transmitted through thephotographing lens 154 a as the light incident area arranged on theright-hand portion of the camera body 150 when viewed from the frontthereof, is reflected from a prism 154 b and is guided to a CCD imagepickup device 154 c on an image pickup board 153 arranged at the centerof the width of the camera body 150. Designated 176 is a box-batteryhaving a relatively large capacity. This modification also provides thesame advantages as those of the second modification. The construction ofthis modification other than this arrangement remains unchanged fromthat of the second modification.

[0481] (Fifth Modification)

[0482]FIGS. 36A through 37C schematically illustrate an electroniccamera in accordance with a fifth modification of the basic embodiment.FIG. 36A illustrates the top structure of the camera, FIG. 36Billustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the front thereof,and FIG. 36C illustrates the structure of the camera viewed from theleft-hand side thereof with respect to the front of the camera.

[0483]FIGS. 37A through 37C also schematically illustrate the electroniccamera of the fifth modification of the basic embodiment, FIG. 37Aillustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the front thereof,FIG. 37B illustrates the structure of the camera viewed from theright-hand side of the camera with respect to the front thereof, andFIG. 37C illustrates the structure of the camera viewed from the bottomside of the camera.

[0484] The main difference of the fifth modification from the firstmodification is that the optical axis bending type photographing opticalsystem 154 is arranged on the left-hand side of the camera body 150 withrespect to the center thereof (on the side of a grip portion) whenviewed from the front thereof, that a battery holder 186 is arrangedbelow the photographing optical system 154, and that a stroboscopiccapacitor 155 is arranged right below an optical finder 161 and astroboscopic light emission unit 162 with a media connector 158 mountedtherebelow. In this modification, a battery pack 156 is loaded into thecamera body 150 through the left-hand sidewall of the camera body 150 asrepresented by an arrow B, and a smart medium 158 a is loaded into thecamera body 150 through the right-hand sidewall of the camera body 150as represented by an arrow S. Like the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system 154 of the fourth modification, the opticalaxis bending type photographing optical system 154 of this modificationincludes a photographing lens 154 a constituting a light entrance areaon the right-hand side of the camera body 150 when viewed from the frontthereof, and a CCD image pickup device 154 c on the left-hand side ofthe camera body 150 when viewed from the front thereof.

[0485] Since the battery pack 156 and the smart medium 185 a arearranged with the length directions thereof aligned in parallel with thebottom plane of the camera in this modification, the fifth modificationprovides the same advantages as those of the first modification. Theconstruction of the fifth modification other than the above arrangementremains unchanged from that of the first modification, and thediscussion thereof is omitted here.

[0486] (Features of the Seventh Embodiment)

[0487] [1] The electronic camera of this embodiment includes the camerabody 150, the photographing optical system 154 having, in the vicinityof the light incident area (the photographing lens 154 a) of the camerabody 150, the reflective surface M for bending the optical axis so thatthe optical axis OB of the light beam reflected from the reflectivesurface M is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the photographingoptical system 154 which is in parallel with the bottom plane of thecamera, the optical finder 161 arranged above the photographing opticalsystem 154 in a manner such that the length direction thereof is alignedwith the length direction of the photographing optical system 154, andthe stroboscopic capacitor 155 arranged blow the photographing opticalsystem 154 in a manner such that the length direction thereof is alignedwith the length direction of the photographing optical system 154.

[0488] In the above electronic camera having the optical axis bendingtype photographing optical system 154, the plurality of optical unitseach having an elongated shape, namely, the optical finder 161, and thestroboscopic capacitor 155 are stacked in parallel with the bottomsurface of the camera 150 inside the camera 150 with the lengthdirections thereof aligned with the length direction of thephotographing optical system 154. This arrangement leaves less spaceunused between the stacked optical units. At least the height dimensionof the camera body 150 is reduced. With the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system 154 mounted, the already thin camera isfurther miniaturized.

[0489] [2] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera stated in [1], the photographing optical system 154 isarranged so that the light incident area thereof (the photographing lens154 a, etc.) is mounted at the center of the width of the camera body150.

[0490] Since the light incident area is positioned at the center of thewidth (the horizontal width or vertical height) of the camera body 150,the image pickup device 154 c at the back end of the photographingoptical system 154 is naturally placed close to one of the two opposedends of the camera body 150. The photographing optical system 154 isthus housed in the right-hand half or the left-hand half of the camerabody 150. The optical units surrounding the photographing optical system154 are mounted in a more orderly manner.

[0491] [3] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera stated in feature [1], the photographing optical system154 is arranged so that the light incident area thereof (thephotographing lens 154 a, etc.) is mounted at one end of the width ofthe camera body 150.

[0492] Since the light incident area is positioned at the one end of thewidth (the horizontal width or vertical height) of the camera body 150,the image pickup device 154 c at the back end of the photographingoptical system 154 is naturally placed close to the center of the widthof the camera body 150. The photographing optical system 154 is thushoused in the right-hand half or the left-hand half of the camera body150. The optical units surrounding the photographing optical system 154are mounted in a more orderly manner.

[0493] [4] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, in accordancewith the camera stated in feature [1] or [2] or [3], the light incidentarea (the front window 161 a) of the optical finder 161 is arrangedright above the light incident area (the photographing lens 154 a) ofthe photographing optical system 154, and the stroboscopic lightemission unit 162 is arranged in the vicinity of the optical finder 161and above the image pickup device 154 c at the back end of thephotographing optical system 154.

[0494] Since the light incident area (the front window 161 a) of theoptical finder 161 and the light incident area (the photographing lens154 a) of the photographing optical system 154 are arranged in closevicinity to each other in the electronic camera, a difference in angleof view therebetween is small and a so-called parallax is reduced. Sincethe spacing between the light incident area (the photographing lens 154a) of the photographing optical system 154 and the stroboscopic lightemission unit 162 is large, an angle of irradiation of stroboscopiclight with respect to the photographing optical axis OA widens. As aresult, the so-called red-eye effect is reduced during stroboscopiclight emission.

[0495] [5] The electronic camera of this embodiment includes the camerabody 150, the photographing optical system 154 having, in the vicinityof the light incident area (the photographing lens 154 a) of the camerabody 150, the prism 154 b for bending the optical axis so that theoptical axis OB subsequent to reflection is aligned with thelongitudinal axis of the photographing optical system 154 which is inparallel with the bottom plane of the camera, the photographing opticalsystem 154 being arranged on the left-hand side (on the side of the gripportion) with respect to the center of the camera body 150 when viewedfrom the front of the camera, and a battery holder 186 arranged belowthe photographing optical system 154.

[0496] In the electronic camera of this embodiment, the reflectivesurface may be substituted for the prism 154 b having the reflectivesurface M.

[0497] The seventh embodiment of the present invention provides theelectronic camera having the following advantages.

[0498] (a) In the electronic camera having the optical axis bending typephotographing optical system, the plurality of optical units each havingan elongated shape (for example, the optical finder, the stroboscopiccapacitor, etc.) are stacked inside the camera in parallel with thebottom surface of the camera, and with the length directions thereofaligned with the length direction of the photographing optical system.This arrangement leaves less space unused between the stacked opticalunits. At least the height dimension of the camera body is reduced.

[0499] (b) With the optical axis bending type photographing opticalsystem 154 mounted, the already thin camera is further miniaturized(with the height dimension reduced).

[0500] Having described the preferred embodiments of the inventionreferring to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to those precise embodiments andvarious changes and modifications thereof could be made by one skilledin the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera comprising: a first lens unit, formed ofa plurality of lenses, on which a light beam is incident from a subject,a reflective member for reflecting a light beam, which has come from thesubject and has been transmitted through the first lens unit, in adirection substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the firstlens unit, a first diaphragm member which is arranged on a surface of alens of the first lens unit closest to the reflective member with thesurface of the lens facing the reflective member, and which blocksunwanted rays of light other than the light beam that contributes to theforming of the image of the subject on an image formation surface, asecond lens unit, formed of a plurality of lenses, on which the lightbeam reflected from the reflective member is incident, at least eitherone of a second diaphragm member or an unwanted ray-of-light reflectionprevention member; wherein the second diaphragm member is arrangedbetween the first lens unit and the second lens unit, and blocksunwanted rays of light that travel outside the outermost periphery atwhich the light beam forming the subject image traveling from the firstlens unit to the reflective member intersects the light beam forming thesubject image traveling from the reflective member to the second lensunit, and the unwanted ray-of-light reflection prevention member isarranged on the reflective member to prevent rays of light from beingreflected from a region thereof other than the region thereof on whichthe light beam forming the subject image is incident, and a thirddiaphragm member, arranged in the vicinity of a surface of the lens ofthe second lens unit closest to the reflective member with the surfaceof the lens facing the reflective member, for blocking unwanted rays oflight other than the light beam contributing to the formation of thesubject image.
 2. A camera comprising: a first lens unit, formed of aplurality of lenses, on which a light beam is incident from a subject, areflective member for reflecting a light beam, which has come from thesubject and has been transmitted through the first lens unit, in adirection substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the firstlens unit, a first diaphragm member which is arranged on a surface of alens of the first lens unit closest to the reflective member with thesurface of the lens facing the reflective member, and which blocksunwanted rays of light other than the light beam that contributes to theforming of the image of the subject on an image formation surface, asecond lens unit, formed of a plurality of lenses, on which the lightbeam reflected from the reflective member is incident, a seconddiaphragm member which is arranged between the first lens unit and thesecond lens unit, and blocks unwanted rays of light that travel outsidethe outermost periphery at which the light beam forming the subjectimage traveling from the first lens unit to the reflective memberintersects the light beam forming the subject image traveling from thereflective member to the second lens unit, a third diaphragm member,arranged in the vicinity of a surface of the lens of the second lensunit closest to the reflective member with the surface of the lensfacing the reflective member, for blocking unwanted rays of light otherthan the light beam contributing to the formation of the subject image,and an unwanted ray-of-light reflection prevention member which isarranged on the reflective member to prevent rays of light from beingreflected from a region thereof other than the region thereof on whichthe light beam forming the subject image is incident.
 3. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein the reflective member is arranged on onlyan area where the light beam forming the subject image is incident. 4.The camera according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the lens of thesecond lens unit closest to the reflective member is set to be largerthan the inner diameter of the third diaphragm so that a portion of thelight beam incident on the lens is prevented from being reflected fromthe outer periphery of the lens.
 5. A camera comprising: a first lensunit, formed of a plurality of lenses, on which a light beam is incidentfrom a subject, a reflective member for reflecting a light beam, whichhas come from the subject and has been transmitted through the firstlens unit, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the opticalaxis of the first lens unit, a first diaphragm member which is arrangedon a surface of a lens of the first lens unit closest to the reflectivemember with the surface of the lens facing the reflective member, andwhich blocks unwanted rays of light other than the light beam thatcontributes to the forming of the image of the subject on animage-forming surface, a second lens unit, formed of a plurality oflenses, on which the light beam reflected from the reflective member isincident, and at least either one of a second diaphragm member or anunwanted ray-of-light reflection prevention member, wherein the seconddiaphragm member is arranged between the first lens unit and the secondlens unit, and blocks unwanted rays of light that travel outside theoutermost periphery at which the light beam forming the subject imagetraveling from the first lens unit to the reflective member intersectsthe light beam forming the subject image traveling from the reflectivemember to the second lens unit, and the unwanted ray-of-light reflectionprevention member is arranged on the reflective member to prevent raysof light from being reflected from a region thereof other than theregion thereof on which the light beam forming the subject image isincident.
 6. A camera comprising: a first lens unit, formed of aplurality of lenses, on which a light beam is incident from a subject, areflective member for reflecting a light beam, which has come from thesubject and has been transmitted through the first lens unit, in adirection substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the firstlens unit, a first diaphragm member which is arranged on a surface of alens of the first lens unit closest to the reflective member with thesurface of the lens facing the reflective member, and which blocksunwanted rays of light other than the light beam that contributes to theforming of the image of the subject on an image formation surface, asecond lens unit, formed of a plurality of lenses, on which the lightbeam reflected from the reflective member is incident, a seconddiaphragm member which is arranged between the first lens unit and thesecond lens unit, and blocks unwanted rays of light that travel outsidethe outermost periphery at which the light beam forming the subjectimage traveling from the first lens unit to the reflective memberintersects the light beam forming the subject image traveling from thereflective member to the second lens unit, and an unwanted ray-of-lightreflection prevention member which is arranged on the reflective memberto prevent rays of light from being reflected from a region thereofother than the region thereof on which the light beam forming thesubject image is incident.
 7. A camera comprising: a first lens unit,formed of a plurality of lenses, on which a light beam is incident froma subject, a reflective member for reflecting a light beam, which hascome from the subject and has been transmitted through the first lensunit, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis ofthe first lens unit, a subject image capturing device arranged at alocation where the light beam reflected from the reflective member formsthe subject image, and mounted integrally with a frame member, a focusadjusting mechanism which performs a focus adjustment operation for thesubject image by varying the distance between the reflective member andthe subject image capturing device, and a subject light beam incidentwindow, formed in a housing member, and having an opening dimension thatpermits the light beam from the subject incident on the first lens unitto be transmitted therethrough, wherein the window has the long edgethereof to permit the light beam incident on the first lens unit to betransmitted therethrough regardless of when the distance between thereflective member and the subject image capturing device, which isvaried in response to the focus adjustment operation, is set to beshortest or when the distance between the reflective member and thesubject image capturing device is set to be longest.
 8. The cameraaccording to claim 7, wherein the subject light beam incident window hasan opening dimension in a direction substantially perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the first lens unit in the focus adjustmentoperation thereof being substantially equal to the diameter of theincident light beam from the subject.
 9. The camera according to claim7, wherein the subject light beam incident window has an elongated shapehaving a long edge thereof in a direction aligned with the direction ofmovement of the first lens unit in the focus adjustment operationthereof.
 10. A camera comprising: a flat and elongated casing, a batteryholder for holding a battery, arranged near one end of the longitudinalcasing, and having a portion thereof shortest in dimension aligned withthe direction of depth of the flat shape of the casing, a recordingmedium container with at least a portion thereof stacked on the batteryholder in the direction of depth of the casing, and with a portionthereof shortest in dimension aligned with the direction of depth of thecasing, a photographing optical system, arranged near the other end ofthe longitudinal casing, for bending an incident light beam from asubject and forming the image on an image pickup surface, an operationswitch, and a display, wherein at least a portion of at least one of theoperation switch and the display is stacked on the photographing opticalsystem in the direction of depth of the casing, and the operation switchand the display are not stacked on each other on the projection plane ofthe casing when viewed from the subject.
 11. The camera according toclaim 10, wherein the photographing optical system is arranged so thatno portion thereof is stacked on the battery holder and the recordingmedium container in the casing when viewed from the subject.
 12. Thecamera according to claim 10, wherein the operation switch includes aplurality of switches.
 13. The camera according to claim 10, wherein theoperation switch is arranged near one end of the casing, and the displayis arranged near the other end of the casing opposite from the operationswitch.
 14. The camera according to claim 10, wherein the display isarranged near one end of the casing, and the operation switch isarranged near the other end of the casing opposite from the display. 15.The camera according to claim 10, wherein one end of the casing isshaped into a grip of the camera.
 16. The camera according to claim 10,wherein the recording medium container holds a recording medium in adetachable manner, and a cover member for loading and unloading therecording medium is arranged on one end portion of the casing.
 17. Acamera comprising: a flat and elongated casing, a battery holder forholding a battery, arranged near one end of the elongated casing, andhaving a portion thereof shortest in dimension aligned with thedirection of depth of the flat shape of the casing, a photographingoptical system, arranged near the other end of the elongated casing, forbending an incident light beam from a subject and forming the image onan image pickup surface thereof, an image pickup board which is arrangedin parallel with an image pickup surface of an image pickup device andreceives an output signal from the image pickup device, wherein theimage pickup surface of the image pickup device is arranged in the imagepickup surface of the photographing optical system, and a circuit boardhaving an outer shape that is stacked on the battery holder in thedirection of depth of the casing, but is not stacked on thephotographing optical system in the direction of depth of the casing,and generally coextends with the plane of the casing when viewed fromthe subject.
 18. The camera according to claim 17, the image pickupboard is arranged near the other end of the casing.
 19. The cameraaccording to claim 17, further comprising a connector for connecting theimage pickup board to the circuit board.
 20. The camera according toclaim 17, wherein two opposite sides of the image pickup board arerespectively arranged close to the front side and the back side of thecasing.
 21. The camera according to claim 19, wherein the circuit boardcomprises a lip portion projecting in a location clear of thephotographing optical system with the connector mounted on the lipportion.
 22. The camera according to claim 19, wherein the circuit boardcomprises a pair of lip portions respectively extending on both sides ofthe photographing optical system with the connector mounted on one ofthe lip portions.
 23. The camera according to claim 21, furthercomprising a second circuit board, and the circuit board with theconnector mounted on one of the lip portions and with the connector tothe second circuit board mounted on the other of the lip portions. 24.The camera according to claim 23, wherein the second circuit board ispartly stacked on the optical system in the direction of depth of thecasing.
 25. A camera comprising: a flat casing, a battery holder forholding a battery, arranged near one end of the casing, and having aportion thereof shortest in dimension aligned with the direction ofdepth of the flat shape of the casing, a photographing optical system,arranged near the other end of the casing, for bending an incident lightbeam from a subject and forming the image on an image pickup surfacethereof, a first circuit board having an outer shape that is stacked onthe battery holder in the direction of depth of the casing, but is notstacked on the photographing optical system in the direction of depth,and substantially coextends with the projection plane of the casing whenviewed from the subject, and a second circuit board having a shape notstacked on the battery holder and the photographing optical system inthe direction of depth of the casing.
 26. A camera comprising: a flatcasing, a battery holder for holding a battery, arranged near one end ofthe casing, and having a portion thereof shortest in dimension alignedwith the direction of depth of the flat shape of the casing, aphotographing optical system, arranged near the other end of the casing,for bending an incident light beam from a subject and forming the imageon an image pickup surface thereof, an image pickup board which isarranged in parallel with an image pickup surface of an image pickupdevice and receives an output signal from the image pickup device,wherein the image pickup surface of the image pickup device is arrangedin the image pickup surface of the photographing optical system, a firstcircuit board having an outer shape that is stacked on the batteryholder in the direction of depth of the casing, but is not stacked onthe photographing optical system in the direction of depth, andsubstantially coextends with the projection plane of the casing whenviewed from the subject, and a second circuit board having a shape notstacked on the battery holder and the photographing optical system inthe direction of depth of the casing.
 27. The camera according to claim26, further comprising a connector for connecting the image pickup boardto the first circuit board.
 28. The camera according to claim 26,wherein the image pickup board is arranged on the other end portion ofthe casing.
 29. The camera according to claim 25, wherein a recordingmedium container is arranged on the first circuit board.
 30. The cameraaccording to claim 25, wherein the second circuit board comprises astroboscopic control unit and an input unit connected to the battery.31. The camera according to claim 25, wherein two opposite sides of thesecond circuit board are respectively arranged close to two sides of thecasing.
 32. A camera comprising: a flat casing, a battery holderarranged inside the casing, a circuit board arranged with at least aportion thereof stacked on the battery holder in the direction of depthof the casing, and a flat electrical-double-layer capacitor stacked andarranged with at least a portion thereof stacked on both the batteryholder and the circuit board.
 33. A camera comprising: a flat casing, abattery holder arranged inside the casing, a circuit board arranged withat least a portion thereof stacked on the battery holder in thedirection of depth of the casing, a recording medium container, mountedon the circuit board with at least a portion of the recording mediumcontainer stacked on the battery holder, for storing video data, and anelectrical-double-layer capacitor stacked and arranged with at least aportion thereof stacked on all of the battery holder, circuit board andthe recording medium container.
 34. The camera according to claim 33,wherein the projection area from the electrical-double-layer capacitorwhen viewed from the front of the casing is equal to or smaller than thearea of the recording medium container.
 35. The camera according toclaim 32, wherein the circuit board is arranged between the batteryholder and the electrical-double-layer capacitor in the direction ofdepth of the casing.
 36. The camera according to claim 32, furthercomprising an image formation optical system, arranged inside the casingon one end portion thereof, for forming the image of a subjectpositioned in front of the casing, wherein the battery holder isarranged on the other end portion of the casing.
 37. The cameraaccording to claim 36, wherein the image formation optical system has noportion thereof stacked on any of the battery holder, the circuit board,the recording medium container, and the electrical-double-layercapacitor in the direction of depth of the casing.
 38. The cameraaccording to claim 32, wherein the electrical-double-layer capacitor isarranged adjacent to an outer housing member of the casing.
 39. Thecamera according to claim 32, wherein the electrical-double-layercapacitor is fixed to an outer housing of the casing.
 40. The cameraaccording to claim 38, wherein the casing comprises a grip portionprojecting from the flat planar portion thereof, and theelectrical-double-layer capacitor is arranged inside the grip portion.41. An electronic camera comprising: a camera body, an optical axisbending type photographing optical system having a reflective surfacewhich is arranged in the vicinity of a light incident area of the camerabody and inclined with respect to the optical axis of an incident lightbeam so that the optical axis reflected from the reflective surface isaligned with the direction of width of the camera body, and astroboscopic capacitor arranged with a portion of an outer circumferencethereof being adjacent to the back side of the reflective surface of thephotographing optical system and with the length direction thereofaligned to be perpendicular to the bottom plane of the camera body. 42.The electronic camera according to claim 41, wherein the reflectivesurface is a reflective surface of a prism included in the axis bendingtype photographing optical system.
 43. The electronic camera accordingto claim 41, wherein the reflective surface is a reflective surface of areflective mirror included in the axis bending type photographingoptical system.
 44. The electronic camera according to claim 41, whereinthe reflective surface is arranged to be substantially in the center ofthe width of the camera body.
 45. The electronic camera according toclaim 42, wherein the stroboscopic capacitor is long enough tosubstantially coextend with the height of the camera body and is mountedon a circuit board which is arranged close to and in parallel with thebottom plane of the camera.
 46. The electronic camera according to claim41, wherein an optical finder is arranged above the photographingoptical system and in the vicinity of the stroboscopic capacitor.
 47. Anelectronic camera comprising: a camera body, a photographing opticalsystem having a reflective surface thereof, for bending an optical axis,in the vicinity of a light incident area of the camera body, andarranged in the camera body so that the length direction thereof,aligned with the optical axis reflected from the reflective surface, isin parallel with the bottom plane of the camera, an optical finderarranged above the photographing optical system with the lengthdirection of the optical finder aligned to be in parallel with thelength direction of the photographing optical system, and a stroboscopiccapacitor arranged below the photographing optical system with thelength direction of the stroboscopic capacitor aligned to be in parallelwith the length direction of the photographing optical system.
 48. Theelectronic camera according to claim 47, wherein the light incident areaof the photographing optical system is arranged substantially in thecenter of the width of the camera body.
 49. The electronic cameraaccording to claim 47, wherein the light incident area of thephotographing optical system is arranged on one end portion of the widthof the camera body.
 50. The electronic camera according to claim 47,wherein the optical finder is arranged with the light incident areathereof positioned right above the light incident area of thephotographing optical system, and a stroboscopic light emission unit isarranged in the vicinity of the optical finder and above an image pickupdevice positioned on the back end portion of the photographing opticalsystem.
 51. An electronic camera comprising: a camera body, aphotographing optical system having a reflective surface thereof forbending an optical axis, in the vicinity of a light incident area of thecamera body, with the length direction thereof aligned with the opticalaxis of the light beam reflected from the reflective surface, thephotographing optical system arranged on the left-hand side with respectto the center when viewed from the front of the camera body in a posturewith the length direction thereof in parallel with the bottom plane ofthe camera, and a battery holder arranged below the photographingoptical system.
 52. An electronic camera comprising: a casing, aphotographing optical system, arranged in the casing, for forming animage of a subject in front of the casing, an image pickup device,integrally assembled with the photographing optical system, for pickingup the subject image formed by the photographing optical system, animage pickup board connected to the image pickup device, and a firstcircuit board fixed to the casing with at least a portion thereofstacked on the image pickup board in the direction of depth of thecasing, wherein the image pickup board is mounted in the casingsubsequent to the mounting of the photographing optical system and thefirst circuit board in the casing, and the image pickup board is fixedand connected to a terminal of the image pickup device.
 53. Theelectronic camera according to claim 52, further comprising: a connectorarranged on the surface of the first circuit board, and a connectorarranged on the back side of the image pickup board, wherein the firstcircuit board and the image pickup board are mounted with the connectorsthereof connected to each other on the facing planes thereof.
 54. Theelectronic camera according to claim 52, the first circuit board is oneof a power board for performing power supply control and stroboscopiccontrol or a main board for performing signal processing and sequentialcontrol.
 55. An electronic camera comprising: a casing, a photographingoptical system, arranged in the casing, for capturing an image of asubject in front of the casing, an image pickup device, integrallyassembled with the photographing optical system, for picking up thesubject image formed by the photographing optical system, an imagepickup board connected to the image pickup device, a first circuit boardfixed to the casing with at least a portion thereof stacked on the imagepickup board in the direction of depth of the casing, and a secondcircuit board having a connector on the back side thereof, and mountedwith at least a portion thereof stacked on both the image pickup boardand the first circuit board in the direction of depth of the casing, andwith a connector arranged on the first circuit board connected to theconnector arranged on the back side of the second circuit board, whereinthe image pickup board is fixed in the casing subsequent to the mountingof the photographing optical system and the first circuit board in thecasing, and the image pickup board is fixed to and connected to aterminal of the image pickup device.
 56. An electronic cameracomprising: a casing, a photographing optical system, arranged insidethe casing, for capturing an image of a subject in front of the casing,an image pickup device, integrally assembled with the photographingoptical system, for picking up the subject image formed by thephotographing optical system, an image pickup board connected to theimage pickup device, a first circuit board fixed to the casing with atleast a portion thereof stacked on the image pickup board in thedirection of depth of the casing, and a second circuit board fixed tothe casing and mounted with at least a portion thereof stacked on theimage pickup board and the first circuit board in the direction of depthof the casing, wherein the image pickup board is fixed in the casingsubsequent to the mounting of the photographing optical system, thefirst circuit board, and the second circuit board in the casing, and theimage pickup board is fixed to and connected to a terminal of the imagepickup device.
 57. The electronic camera according to claim 56, furthercomprising: a connector arranged on the front side of the first circuitboard, and a connector arranged on the back side of the second circuitboard, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board aremounted with the connectors thereof connected to each other on thefacing planes thereof.
 58. The electronic camera according to claim 55,further comprising: a connector arranged on the front side of the secondcircuit board, and a connector arranged on the back side of the imagepickup board, wherein the second circuit board and the image pickupboard are mounted with the connectors thereof connected to each other onthe facing planes thereof.
 59. The electronic camera according to claim55, wherein the first circuit board is a power board for performingpower supply control and stroboscopic control, and the second circuitboard is a main board for performing signal processing and sequentialcontrol.
 60. The electronic camera according to claim 55, wherein thefirst circuit board a main board for performing signal processing andsequential control and the second circuit board is a power board forperforming power supply control and stroboscopic control.
 61. Theelectronic camera according to claim 52, wherein the image pickup boardis assembled to and fixed to the photographing optical system subsequentto the mounting of the photographing optical system and the firstcircuit board into the casing, and then the image pickup board is fixedto and connected to a terminal of the image pickup device.
 62. Theelectronic camera according to claim 52, wherein the image pickup boardhas a hole through which the terminal of the image pickup device isinserted and connected, and the hole is larger than the outer dimensionof the terminal of the image pickup device.
 63. The electronic cameraaccording to claim 52, wherein the casing is flat.